Hypoglycemia but Not Hyperglycemia Is Associated with Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Diabetes

Outcomes associated with a variable rate insulin infusion diabetic ketoacidosis protocol

AIMS

To relate adverse events with glucose correction rates in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) using variable rate intravenous insulin-infusions (VRIII).

METHODS

Retrospective, observational study in adults with DKA who received insulin infusions between 2012 and 2017 at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. Early correction of hyperglycaemia (<10 mmol/L) was evaluated for association with hypoglycaemia (<4.0 mmol/L), hypokalaemia (potassium <3.3 mmol/L) and clinical outcomes via regression analysis.

RESULTS

The study involved 97 patients, with 93 % having type 1 diabetes. The mean age was 38 years, 47 % were women and 35 % were admitted to intensive care. Hypoglycaemia rates during 12 and 24 h of treatment were 6.2 % and 8.2 %, respectively with 58 % of patients recording their first BGL <10 mmol/L within 12 h and 88 % within 24 h. Ketone clearance time averaged at 15.6 h. Hyperglycaemia correction rates to <10 mmol/L were not different in those with/without hypoglycaemia at 12/24 h, in multivariate analysis including admission BGL. Hypokalaemia occurred in 40.2 % of patients and was associated with lower pH but not BGL correction rates.

CONCLUSION

The VRIII protocol achieved early hyperglycaemia correction and ketoacidosis reversal with low hypoglycaemia risk. However, high hypokalaemia rates suggest the need for aggressive potassium replacement, especially in markedly acidotic patients.

Glucose management in critically ill adults: A qualitative study from the experiences of health care providers

Aims and objective

To explain the components and elements of glucose management in critically ill adult patients from the healthcare providers' experiences.

Background

Critically ill adults are highly susceptible to stress-induced hyperglycaemia due to glucose metabolic disorders. Healthcare workers play a key role in the glycaemic management of critically ill patients. However, there is a lack of qualitative studies on the content and elements of glycaemic management and healthcare workers' perceptions about glycaemic management in China.

Design

Qualitative study that followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.

Methods

Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted from January to April 2022. Fifteen physicians and nurses were recruited from ten hospitals in mainland China. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Glucose management in critically ill adult patients from their experiences included two parts: the inner ring (practice behaviours) and the external space (methods and drivers). The practice behaviours of glucose management include five elements, while the methods and drivers of glucose management focus on three elements. The content covered under each element was identified.

Conclusion

This study developed a glycaemic management model for critically ill adult patients, clarified its elements based on the perceptions of healthcare providers and elaborated on the methods and drivers covered under each element to provide a reference for physicians and nurses to develop a comprehensive glycaemic management guideline for critically ill adult patients.

Relevance to clinical practice

Our study proposed a glucose management practice model for critically ill adult patients, and the elements and components included in this model can provide a reference for physicians and nurses when performing glucose management in critically ill patients.

Upregulation of PTPN1 aggravates endotoxemia-induced cardiac dysfunction through inhibiting mitophagy

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 1 (PTPN1) in mitophagy during sepsis and its underlying mechanisms and determine the therapeutic potential of PTPN1 inhibitors in endotoxemia-induced cardiac dysfunction.

METHODS

A mouse model of endotoxemia was established by administering an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The therapeutic effect of targeting PTPN1 was evaluated using its inhibitor Claramine (CLA). Mitochondrial structure and function as well as the expression of mitophagy-related proteins were evaluated. Rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to mouse RAW264.7 macrophage-derived conditioned medium. Cryptotanshinone, a specific p-STAT3 (Y705) inhibitor, was used to confirm the role of STAT3 in PTPN1-mediated mitophagy following LPS exposure. Electrophoretic mobility shift and dual luciferase reporter assays were performed to discern the mechanisms by which STAT3 regulated the expression of PINK1 and PRKN.

RESULTS

CLA alleviated LPS-induced myocardial damage, cardiac dysfunction, and mitochondrial injury and dysfunction in the mouse heart. PTPN1 upregulation exacerbated LPS-induced mitochondrial injury and dysfunction in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, but inhibited LPS-induced mitophagy. LPS promoted the interaction between PTPN1 and STAT3 and reduced STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 (Y705), which was required to inhibit mitophagy by PTPN1. Upon LPS stimulation, PTPN1 negatively regulated the transcription of PINK1 and PRKN through dephosphorylation of STAT3 at Y705. STAT3 regulated the transcription of PINK1 and PRKN by binding to STAT3-responsive elements in their promoters.

CONCLUSION

PTPN1 upregulation aggravates endotoxemia-induced cardiac dysfunction by impeding mitophagy through dephosphorylation of STAT3 at Y705 and negative regulation of PINK1 and PRKN transcription.

Hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during hospitalization: associated factors and prognostic value

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for hypoglycemia during hospital admission and its consequences in patients with diabetes are not entirely known. The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors for hypoglycemia, as well as the potential implications of hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to the hospital.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 324 patients (214 [66.0%] men; median age 70 years, range 34-95 years) with type 2 diabetes admitted to a university hospital who were consulted the Endocrinology Department for glycemic control during a 12-month period. We investigated the potential role of demographic factors, metabolic factors, therapy, and comorbidities on the development of in-hospital hypoglycemia. We explored the prognostic value of hypoglycemia on mortality (both in-hospital and in the long-term), hospital readmission in the following year, and metabolic control (HbA1c value) after discharge (median follow-up, 886 days; range 19-1255 days).

RESULTS

Hypoglycemia occurred in 154 (47.5%) patients during their hospitalization and was associated with advanced age, previous insulin therapy, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, lower body mass index and lower baseline HbA1c values. Hypoglycemia was associated with greater in-hospital and long-term mortality, longer hospital stays, higher readmission rates, and poorer metabolic control after discharge. These negative consequences of hypoglycemia were more frequent in patients with severe (≤ 55 mg/dL) hypoglycemia and in patients who had hypoglycemia during a greater percentage of hospitalization days.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoglycemia during hospital admission is a marker of a poor prognosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Glycemic variability and mortality in oncologic intensive care units

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the association between glycemic variability and mortality in patients admitted to oncologic intensive care units.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a convenience sample of 30 medical records of patients over 18 years of age of both sexes. Glycemic variability was measured using the standard deviation and general amplitude. Statistical analysis was performed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC). The significance level (α) was set at 5% with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%.

RESULTS

The study included 14 male patients (46.67%) with a mean age of 60±15 years. A total of 1503 blood glucose samples were collected. The AUC analysis for the standard deviation did not show a statistically significant result (p=.966; 95% CI=[0.283, 0.726]). In contrast, the general amplitude had a statistically significant association with mortality (p=.049; 95% CI=[0.514, 0.916]).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that glycemic variability measured by the general amplitude was significantly associated with patient mortality in oncologic intensive care units. These findings suggest that monitoring glycemic variability may be an important factor in the management of critically ill patients in oncologic intensive care units.

Association of hypoglycaemia with the risks of arrhythmia and mortality in individuals with diabetes - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Hypoglycaemia has been linked to an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias by causing autonomic and metabolic alterations, which may be associated with detrimental outcomes in individuals with diabetes(IWD), such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mortality, especially in multimorbid or frail people. However, such relationships in this population have not been thoroughly investigated. For this reason, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Relevant papers published on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and CINHAL complete from inception to December 22, 2022 were routinely searched without regard for language. All of the selected articles included odds ratio, hazard ratio, or relative risk statistics, as well as data for estimating the connection of hypoglycaemia with cardiac arrhythmia, CVD-induced death, or total death in IWD. Regardless of the heterogeneity assessed by the I2 statistic, pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained using random-effects models.

Results

After deleting duplicates and closely evaluating all screened citations, we chose 60 studies with totally 5,960,224 participants for this analysis. Fourteen studies were included in the arrhythmia risk analysis, and 50 in the analysis of all-cause mortality. Hypoglycaemic patients had significantly higher risks of arrhythmia occurrence (RR 1.42, 95%CI 1.21-1.68), CVD-induced death (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.24-2.04), and all-cause mortality (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.49-1.90) compared to euglycaemic patients with significant heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Hypoglycaemic individuals are more susceptible to develop cardiac arrhythmias and die, but evidence of potential causal linkages beyond statistical associations must await proof by additional specifically well planned research that controls for all potential remaining confounding factors.

Hypothesis: Enhanced glucose availability and insulin resistance enhances an activated immune system and accounts for the obesity paradox

Many studies have demonstrated an 'obesity paradox' where people with obesity have reduced mortality in the context of acute critical illnesses compared to people of normal weight. In contrast, obesity is associated with reduced life expectancy in the population in general and is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other health problems. However, the absence of the metabolic syndrome is associated a lower mortality than when the metabolic syndrome is present regardless of body mass index status and the obesity paradox appears to only occur in association with the metabolic syndrome, but cardiorespiratory fitness modifies these outcomes. Enhanced glucose availability is important when the immune system is activated not only because it has an acute onset, a high consumption of glucose and is substantially an obligate glucose utilizer but also because it has priority over most other tissues and cells for the available glucose. Thus, for vulnerable populations, such as children with severe infections, this increases the risk of hypoglycaemia and death. The obesity paradox may be substantially a consequence of two features associated with obesity. One is endogenous glucose production (EGP). Obesity is associated with an increased capacity for EGP and thus is associated with enhanced glucose availability. Second is insulin resistance that reduces the amount of glucose metabolized by cells that are not obligate glucose utilizers and increases the release of fatty acids and glycerol from adipose stores that are alternative fuels for tissues and cells.

The paradox of the glycemic gap: Does relative hypoglycemia exist in critically ill patients?

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Elevated glycemic gap, as the differences between measured glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)-derived average glucose (ADAG) levels, is a marker of stress-induced hyperglycemia and is a predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. Whether low glycemic gaps are associated with outcomes in critically ill patients remains unclear. We investigated the association of different glycemic gaps on mortality in critically ill patients.

METHODS

Totally 935 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) were enrolled retrospectively after the exclusion of patients with absolute hypoglycemia, extreme hyperglycemia, and incomplete glycemic records. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their glycemic gaps (<-29.7, -29.7-40, ≧40 mg/dL) at the time of ICU admission. The patients were followed for 1 year or until death.

RESULTS

Patients with low glycemic gap (glycemic gap < -29.7 mg/dL), which implied relative hypoglycemia, had lower serum glucose levels, higher HbA1c levels, and greater disease severity. Compared with medium group (glycemic gap -29.7-40 mg/dL), both the low and the high glycemic gap (glycemic gap ≧40 mg/dL) groups had significantly greater 30-day (log-rank p = 0.0464) and 1-year mortality (log-rank p = 0.0016). However, only the low glycemic gap group was independently associated with greater in-hospital mortality after adjusting for comorbidities (adjusted OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.00-3.16, p = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the presence of a U-shaped relationship between the glycemic gap and mortality in critically ill patients. Low glycemic gaps suggested relative hypoglycemia at the time of ICU admission, and were associated independently with greater in-hospital mortality.

Incidence and Impact of Dysglycemia in Patients with Sepsis Under Moderate Glycemic Control

ABSTRACT

Glycemic control strategies for sepsis have changed significantly over the last decade, but their impact on dysglycemia and its associated outcomes has been poorly understood. In addition, there is controversy regarding the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia in sepsis. To evaluate the incidence and risks of dysglycemia under current strategy, we conducted a preplanned subanalysis of the sepsis cohort in a prospective, multicenter FORECAST study. A total of 1,140 patients with severe sepsis, including 259 patients with pre-existing diabetes, were included. Median blood glucose levels were approximately 140 mg/dL at 0 h and 72 h indicating that blood glucose was moderately controlled. The rate of initial and late hyperglycemia was 27.3% and 21.7%, respectively. The rate of early hypoglycemic episodes during the initial 24 h was 13.2%. Glycemic control was accompanied by a higher percentage of initial and late hyperglycemia but not with early hypoglycemic episodes, suggesting that glycemic control was targeted at excess hyperglycemia. In nondiabetic patients, late hyperglycemia (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval; p-value: 1.816, 1.116-2.955, 0.016) and early hypoglycemic episodes (1.936, 1.180-3.175, 0.009) were positively associated with in-hospital mortality. Further subgroup analysis suggested that late hyperglycemia and early hypoglycemic episodes independently, and probably synergistically, affect the outcomes. In diabetic patients, however, these correlations were not observed. In conclusion, a significantly high incidence of dysglycemia was observed in our sepsis cohort under moderate glycemic control. Late hyperglycemia in addition to early hypoglycemia was associated with poor outcomes at least in nondiabetic patients. More sophisticated approaches are necessary to reduce the incidence of these serious complications.

Clinical Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Era of COVID-19: Practical Issues, Peculiarities and Concerns

The management of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. Even if they are not infected, they are at risk of dysregulated glycemic control due to the restrictive measures which compromise and disrupt healthcare delivery. In the case of infection, people with DM have an increased risk of developing severe complications. The major principles of optimal care for mild outpatient cases include a patient-tailored therapeutic approach, regular glucose monitoring and adherence to medical recommendations regarding lifestyle measures and drug treatment. For critically ill hospitalized patients, tight monitoring of glucose, fluids, electrolytes, pH and blood ketones is of paramount importance to optimize outcomes. All patients with DM do not have an equally increased risk for severity and mortality due to COVID-19. Certain clinical and biological characteristics determine high-risk phenotypes within the DM population and such prognostic markers need to be characterized in future studies. Further research is needed to examine which subgroups of DM patients are expected to benefit the most from specific antiviral, immunomodulatory and other treatment strategies in the context of patient-tailored precision medicine, which emerges as an urgent priority in the era of COVID-19.