Optimal glycemic control in neurocritical care patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Hyper- and hypoglycemia are strongly associated with adverse outcomes in critical care. Neurologically injured patients are a unique subgroup, where optimal glycemic targets may differ, such that the findings of clinical trials involving heterogeneous critically ill patients may not apply.


METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intensive insulin therapy with conventional glycemic control among patients with traumatic brain injury, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, anoxic encephalopathy, central nervous system infections or spinal cord injury.


RESULTS
Sixteen RCTs, involving 1248 neurocritical care patients, were included. Glycemic targets with intensive insulin ranged from 70-140 mg/dl (3.9-7.8 mmol/L), while conventional protocols aimed to keep glucose levels below 144-300 mg/dl (8.0-16.7 mmol/L). Tight glycemic control had no impact on mortality (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.83-1.17; p = 0.88), but did result in fewer unfavorable neurological outcomes (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.84-1.00; p = 0.04). However, improved outcomes were only observed when glucose levels in the conventional glycemic control group were permitted to be relatively high [threshold for insulin administration > 200 mg/dl (> 11.1 mmol/L)], but not with more intermediate glycemic targets [threshold for insulin administration 140-180 mg/dl (7.8-10.0 mmol/L)]. Hypoglycemia was far more common with intensive therapy (RR 3.10; 95% CI 1.54-6.23; p = 0.002), but there was a large degree of heterogeneity in the results of individual trials (Q = 47.9; p<0.0001; I2 = 75%). Mortality was non-significantly higher with intensive insulin in studies where the proportion of patients developing hypoglycemia was large (> 33%) (RR 1.17; 95% CI 0.79-1.75; p = 0.44).


CONCLUSIONS
Intensive insulin therapy significantly increases the risk of hypoglycemia and does not influence mortality among neurocritical care patients. Very loose glucose control is associated with worse neurological recovery and should be avoided. These results suggest that intermediate glycemic goals may be most appropriate.
Andreas H
AH
Kramer
Derek J
DJ
Roberts
David A
DA
Zygun
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin