Stress Hyperglycemia and Complications Following Traumatic Injuries in Individuals With/Without Diabetes: The Case of Orthopedic Surgery

Evaluating the prognostic value of the stress index in trauma patients

Background

The stress index (SI), defined as the serum glucose to potassium ratio, has emerged as a potential prognostic indicator in some patient populations. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of SI on the trauma patients sustained by all trauma causes.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20,040 adult trauma patients admitted to a single trauma center from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2022. The SI was calculated according to the serum levels of glucose (mg/dL) and potassium (mEq/L) upon patients' arrival to emergency room. The enrolled patients were stratified into two groups based on an optimal SI cutoff value determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The association between SI and in-hospital mortality, as well as other clinical outcomes, was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

The mortality patients had a significantly higher SI (59.7 ± 30.6 vs. 39.5 ± 17.5, p < 0.001) than those who survived. The SI was identified as a significant independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] 4.65, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.61-8.27, p < 0.001) in the multivariate analysis. In addition, patients in the high SI group (≥42.7) demonstrated significantly worse outcomes, including higher in-hospital mortality (7.5 % vs. 1.4 %, p < 0.001), longer hospital stays compared to the low SI group (<42.7).

Conclusion

The SI serves as a simple and valuable prognostic tool in risk stratification of the trauma patients.

Do preoperative glucose levels predict risk of complications in orthopaedic surgery?

PURPOSE

Post-operative hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for post-surgical complications. The predictive value of pre-operative blood glucose levels, however, is less understood. This study aimed to determine if pre-operative screening blood glucose levels affect the rate of post-operative infection or wound complications. We also investigated if case urgency or anatomic location alters this relationship.

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate patients treated between 2018 and 2021. Subjects ≥ 18 years with closed, non-infected orthopaedic diagnoses requiring surgery were included. Case urgency, demographics, comorbidities, blood glucose level within twelve h prior to surgery, and hemoglobin A1c level within 3 months of surgery, were collected. Infections and wound complications were recorded as outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 775 subjects with a mean age of 61 (range 18-96) were identified, including 543 elective and 232 trauma patients, with a mean pre-operative fasting glucose value of 127.7 mg/dL (range, 49-388 mg/dL) and average HbA1c of 6.9%. The odds of infectious complications were increased by a factor of 1.01 for every 1-point increase in blood glucose (95% CI 1.01-1.02; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative blood glucose levels greater than 137 mg/dL were associated with an increase in wound complications, but not deep infections. Infection rates stratified by anatomic site and case urgency were not impacted by pre-operative glucose levels. The increased risk of poor wound healing in patients with pre-operative hyperglycemia demonstrates that day of surgery point-of-care blood glucose screening can be a useful risk stratification tool.

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis following traumatic brain injury

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors lower glucose levels by reducing glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, which can lead to ketogenesis. Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of SGLT2 inhibitors that can be triggered by trauma. However, the absence of significant hyperglycemia can delay its diagnosis and treatment, which may lead to detrimental consequences. Herein, we report a case of euglycemic DKA following traumatic brain injury in a patient with type 2 diabetes who was taking an SGLT2 inhibitor. Delayed recognition of euglycemic DKA in this case led to progressive metabolic deterioration. This report emphasizes the importance of promptly suspecting, diagnosing, and treating euglycemic DKA in patients with traumatic injuries who exhibit high anion-gap metabolic acidosis, ketonuria, and glucosuria-even if they do not have significant hyperglycemia.

The Glycemic Ratio Is Strongly and Independently Associated With Mortality in the Critically Ill

BACKGROUND

Interventional studies investigating blood glucose (BG) management in intensive care units (ICU) have been inconclusive. New insights are needed. We assessed the ability of a new metric, the Glycemic Ratio (GR), to determine the relationship of ICU glucose control relative to preadmission glycemia and mortality.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort investigation (n = 4790) in an adult medical-surgical ICU included patients with minimum four BGs, hemoglobin (Hgb), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The GR is the quotient of mean ICU BGs (mBG) and estimated preadmission BG, derived from HbA1c.

RESULTS

Mortality displayed a J-shaped curve with GR (nadir GR 0.9), independent of background glycemia, consistent for HbA1c <6.5% vs >6.5%, and Hgb >10 g/dL vs <10 g/dL and medical versus surgical. An optimal range of GR 0.80 to 0.99 was associated with decreased mortality compared with GR above and below this range. The mBG displayed a linear relationship with mortality at lower HbA1c but diminished for HbA1c >6.5%, and dependent on preadmission glycemia. In adjusted analysis, GR remained associated with mortality (odds ratio = 2.61, 95% confidence interval = 1.48-4.62, P = .0012), but mBG did not (1.004, 1.000-1.009, .059). A single value on admission was not independently associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The GR provided new insight into malglycemia that was not apparent using mBG, or an admission value. Mortality was associated with acute change from preadmission glycemia (GR). Further assessment of the impact of GR deviations from the nadir in mortality at GR 0.80 to 0.99, as both relative hypo- and hyperglycemia, and as duration of exposure and intensity, may further define the multifaceted nature of malglycemia.

Elevation of White Blood Cell Subtypes in Adult Trauma Patients with Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia

BACKGROUND

Blood immune cell subset alterations following trauma can indicate a patient's immune-inflammatory status. This research explored the influence of stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) on platelet counts and white blood cell (WBC) subtypes, including the derived indices of the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), in trauma patients.

METHODS

We studied 15,480 adult trauma patients admitted from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2022. They were categorized into four groups: nondiabetic normoglycemia (NDN, n = 11,602), diabetic normoglycemia (DN, n = 1750), SIH (n = 716), and diabetic hyperglycemia (DH, n = 1412). A propensity score-matched cohort was formed after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities, allowing for comparing the WBC subtypes and platelet counts.

RESULTS

Patients with SIH exhibited significantly increased counts of monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in contrast to NDN patients. However, no significant rise in platelet counts was noted in the SIH group. There were no observed increases in these cell counts in either the DN or DH groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that trauma patients with SIH showed significantly higher counts of monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes when compared to NDN patients, whereas the DN and DH groups remained unaffected. This underscores the profound association between SIH and elevated levels of specific WBC subtypes.

The occurrence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia is independently associated with elevated Stress Hyperglycaemia Ratio at admission but not elevated blood glucose

BACKGROUND

The association between stress-induced hyperglycaemia (SIH) and increased infection rates in hospitalised subjects is well-known. It is less clear if SIH at admission independently drives new-onset infections. We assessed the relationship between early exposure at admission to both the Stress Hyperglycaemia Ratio (SHR) and Blood Glucose (BG) with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP).

METHODS

This observational retrospective study included those with length-of-stay > 1 day, BG within 24 h of admission and recent haemoglobin A1c. SIH was defined as BG ≥ 10 mmol/L, or SHR ≥ 1.1, measured at both admission and as a 24-hour maximum. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for length-of-stay, age, mechanical ventilation, and chronic respiratory disease.

RESULTS

Of 5,339 eligible subjects, 110 (2.1%) experienced HAP. Admission SHR ≥ 1.1 was independently associated with HAP (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.98-4.68, p < 0.0001) but not BG ≥ 10 mmol/L (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.41-1.03, p = 0.0675). The association with SHR strengthened using maximum 24-hour values (OR 3.37, 95% CI 2.05-5.52, p < 0.0001) while BG ≥ 10 mmol/L remained insignificant (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.63-1.46, p = 0.86). Of those experiencing HAP 40 (36.4%) occurred in subjects with no recorded BG ≥ 10 mmol/L but SHR ≥ 1.1.

CONCLUSION

SIH at admission defined as SHR ≥ 1.1, but not the conventional marker of BG ≥ 10 mmol/L, was independently associated with the subsequent onset of HAP, commonly at BG < 10 mmol/L.

Malglycemia in the critical care setting. Part I: Defining hyperglycemia in the critical care setting using the glycemic ratio

INTRODUCTION

Stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) is conventionally represented by Blood Glucose (BG) although recent evidence indicates the Glycemic Ratio (GR, quotient of mean BG and estimated preadmission BG) is a superior prognostic marker. We assessed the association between in-hospital mortality and SIH, using BG and GR in an adult medical-surgical ICU.

METHODS

We included patients with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and minimum four BGs in a retrospective cohort investigation (n = 4790).

RESULTS

A critical SIH threshold of GR 1.1 was identified. Mortality increased with increasing exposure to GR ≥ 1.1 (r² = 0.94, p = 0.0007). Duration of exposure to BG ≥ 180 mg/dL demonstrated a less robust association with mortality (r² = 0.75, p = 0.059). In risk-adjusted analyses, hours GR ≥ 1.1 (OR 1.0014, 95%CI (1.0003-1.0026), p = 0.0161) and hours BG ≥ 180 mg/dL (OR 1.0080, 95%CI (1.0034-1.0126), p = 0.0006) were associated with mortality. In the cohort with no exposure to hypoglycemia however, only hours GR ≥ 1.1 was associated with mortality (OR 1.0027, 95%CI (1.0012-1.0043), p = 0.0007), not BG ≥ 180 mg/dL (OR 1.0031, 95%CI (0.9949-1.0114), p = 0.50) and this relationship remained intact for those who never experienced BG outside the 70-180 mg/dL range (n = 2494).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically significant SIH commenced above GR 1.1. Mortality was associated with hours of exposure to GR ≥ 1.1 which was a superior marker of SIH compared to BG.

The impact of Charlson Comorbidity Index on surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) might be associated with higher postoperative morbidity and mortality rates compared with staged bilateral TKA. However, risk factors for surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral TKA remain elusive. We conducted this retrospective, single-surgeon case series from 2010 through 2019. A total of 1561 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures were included. The outcome domains included 30-day and 90-day readmission events for medical or surgical complications and 1-year reoperation events. We performed logistic regression analysis and backward stepwise selection to identify possible risk factors, including age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus (DM), rheumatoid arthritis, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), receiving venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, or blood transfusion. The overall 30-day, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation rates were 2.11%, 2.88%, and 1.41%, respectively. Higher CCI score (CCI = 4+) was a risk factor for 90-day readmission (aOR: 2.783; 95% CI 0.621-12.465), 90 day readmission for surgical complications (aOR: 10.779; 95% CI 1.444-80.458), and 1 year reoperation (aOR: 4.890; 95% CI 0.846-28.260). Other risk factors included older age, higher ASA level, DM, and receiving VTE prophylaxis. In conclusion, high CCI scores were associated with increased risks of surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures.

Absolute Hyperglycemia versus Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio for the Prognosis of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in the First Months of the Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Diabetes is a risk factor for greater severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is an independent predictor of critical illness, and it is reported to have a stronger association than absolute hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of absolute hyperglycemia and SHR with the severity of COVID-19, since there are no studies investigating SHR in patients with COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective observational study on hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the first months of the pandemic, regarding absolute hyperglycemia, SHR, and severity outcomes. Of the 374 patients, 28.1% had a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Absolute hyperglycemia (64.8% versus 22.7%; p < 0.01) and SHR [1.1 (IQR 0.9-1.3) versus 1.0 (IQR 0.9-1.2); p < 0.001] showed a statistically significant association with previous diabetes. Absolute hyperglycemia showed a significant association with clinical severity of COVID-19 (79.0% versus 62.7%; p < 0.001), need for oxygen therapy (74.8% versus 54.4%; p < 0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation (28.6% versus 11.6%; p < 0.001), and intensive care unit (30.3% versus 14.9%; p = 0.002), but not with mortality; by contrast, there was no statistically significant association between SHR and all these parameters. Our results are in agreement with the literature regarding the impact of absolute hyperglycemia on COVID-19 severity outcomes, while SHR was not a significant marker. We therefore suggest that SHR should not be evaluated in all patients admitted in the hospital for COVID-19, and we encourage the standard measures at admission of blood glucose and HbA1c levels.

Strategies for intraoperative glucose management: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Perioperative hyperglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes for patients with and without diabetes. Guidelines and published protocols for intraoperative glycemic management have substantial variation in their recommendations. We sought to characterize the current evidence-guiding intraoperative glycemic management in a scoping review.

SOURCES

Our search strategy included MEDLINE (Ovid and EBSCO), PubMed, PubMed Central, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SciVerse Scopus, and Web of Science and a gray literature search of Google, Google Scholar, hand searching of the reference lists of included articles, OAISter, institutional protocols, and ClinicalTrails.gov.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We identified 41 articles that met our inclusion criteria, 24 of which were original research studies. Outcomes and exposures were defined heterogeneously across studies, which limited comparison and synthesis. Investigators often created arbitrary and differing categories of glucose values rather than analyzing glucose as a continuous variable, which limited our ability to combine results from different studies. In addition, the study populations and surgery types also varied considerably, with few studies performed during day surgeries and specific surgical disciplines. Study populations often included more than one type of surgery, indication, and urgency that were expected to have varying physiologic and inflammatory responses. Combining low- and high-risk patients in the same study population may obscure the harms or benefits of intraoperative glycemic management for high-risk procedures or patients.

CONCLUSION

Future studies examining intraoperative glycemic management should carefully consider the study population, surgical characteristics, and pre- and postoperative management of hyperglycemia.

Quantification of stress-induced hyperglycaemia associated with key diagnostic categories using the stress hyperglycaemia ratio

AIM

Stress-induced hyperglycaemia (SIH) is the acute increase from preadmission glycaemia and is associated with poor outcomes. Early recognition of SIH and subsequent blood glucose (BG) management improves outcomes, but the degree of SIH provoked by distinct diagnostic categories remains unknown. Quantification of SIH is now possible using the stress hyperglycaemia ratio (SHR), which measures the proportional change from preadmission glycaemia, based on haemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c ).

METHODS

We identified eligible patients for eight medical (n = 892) and eight surgical (n = 347) categories. Maximum BG from the first 24 h of admission for medical, or postoperatively for surgical patients was used to calculate SHR.

RESULTS

Analysis of variance indicated differing SHR and BG within both the medical (p < 0.0001 for both) and surgical cohort (p < 0.0001 for both). Diagnostic categories were associated with signature levels of SHR that varied between groups. Medically, SHR was greatest for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (1.22 ± 0.33) and sepsis (1.37 ± 0.43). Surgically, SHR was greatest for colectomy (1.62 ± 0.48) and cardiac surgeries (coronary artery graft 1.56 ± 0.43, aortic valve replacement 1.71 ± 0.33, and mitral valve replacement 1.75 ± 0.34). SHR values remained independent of HbA_1c , with no difference for those with HbA_1c above or below 6.5% (p > 0.11 for each). BG however was highly dependent on HbA_1c , invariably elevated in those with HbA_1c  ≥ 6.5% (p < 0.001 for each), and unreliably reflected SIH.

CONCLUSION

The acute stress response associated with various medical and surgical categories is associated with signature levels of SIH. Those with higher expected SHR are more likely to benefit from early SIH management, especially major surgery, which induced SIH typically 40% greater than medical cohorts. SHR equally recognised the acute change in BG from baseline across the full HbA_1c spectrum while BG did not and poorly reflected SIH.

Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Diabetic Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Evidence is conflicting about the diabetes characteristics associated with worse outcome among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We aimed to assess the role of stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) as a prognostic marker among them. In our retrospective cohort study, patients were stratified according to SHR, admission glucose, and glycated hemoglobin tertiles. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and in-hospital mortality. The study included 395 patients with a mean age of 59 years, and 50.1% were males. Patients in the third tertile of SHR developed more primary events, and the difference was significant compared to the first tertile (p = 0.038) and close to significance compared to the second tertile (p = 0.054). There was no significant difference in the outcomes across admission glucose and glycated hemoglobin tertiles. A higher SHR tertile was an independent risk factor for the primary outcome (OR, 1.364; 95% CI: 1.014–1.836; p = 0.040) after adjustment for other covariables. In hospitalized COVID-19 diabetic patients, SHR third tertile was significantly associated with worse outcome and death. SHR can be a better prognostic marker compared to admission glucose and glycated hemoglobin. A higher SHR was an independent risk factor for worse outcome and in-hospital mortality.

Relationship between cytokine release and stress hyperglycemia in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection

Introduction

Stress hyperglycemia is a frequent finding in patients with COVID-19 infection and could affect the outcome of disease. Cytokines released in response to infection could have adverse effects on insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships of stress hyperglycemia with cytokines and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods

In a cross-sectional analysis of 150 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection who were included in the GIRA-COVID database, we identified patients with stress hyperglycemia by calculation of the Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio (SHR) and use of a cut-off of 1.14. Plasma levels of cytokines principally involved in COVID-19 infection-related cytokine storm were measured. Outcome variables were use of mechanical ventilation and death within 60 days from hospital admission.

Results

Patients with SHR > 1.14 had significantly higher plasma insulin, HOMA-index, and levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-10/tumor necrosis factor-a ratio (IL-10/TNF-α), and CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) than patients with SHR ≤ 1.14. IL-10, IL-10/TNF-α ratio, CXCL10, and IFN-γ were significantly and directly related with SHR in univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models showed that IL-10, IL-10/TNF-α ratio, and CXCL10 were independently associated with SHR>1.14. In a multivariate logistic model, stress hyperglycemia predicted use of mechanical ventilation (OR 2.453; CI 1.078–6.012) and death (OR 2.281; CI 1.049–7.369) independently of diabetes and other major confounders.

Conclusions

In patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection, stress hyperglycemia is associated with worse clinical outcomes and is independently related to levels of cytokines that might impair glucose homeostasis.

HYPERGLYCEMIA IN NON-DIABETIC ADULT TRAUMA PATIENTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORSE OUTCOMES THAN DIABETIC PATIENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF 95,764 PATIENTS

INTRODUCTION

The adverse impact of acute hyperglycemia is well documented but its specific effects on non-diabetic trauma patients are unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the differential impact of hyperglycemia on outcomes between diabetic and non-diabetic trauma inpatients.

METHODS

Adults admitted 2018-19 to 46 Level I/II trauma centers with >2 blood glucose tests (BGT) were analyzed. Diabetes status was determined from ICD-10, trauma registry and/or HbA1c >6.5. Patients with and without >1 hyperglycemic result >180 mg/dL were compared. Logistic regression examined the effects of hyperglycemia and diabetes on outcomes, adjusting for age, gender, ISS & BMI.

RESULTS

There were 95,764 patients: male 54%, mean age 61, mean ISS 10, diabetic 21%. Patients with hyperglycemia had higher mortality and worse outcomes compared to those without hyperglycemia. Non-diabetic hyperglycemic patients had the highest odds of mortality (Diabetic: aOR: 3.11, 95% CI: 2.8-3.5, Non-diabetics aOR: 7.5, 95% CI: 6.8-8.4). Hyperglycemic non-diabetics experienced worse outcomes on every measure when compared to non-hyperglycemic non-diabetics, with higher rates of sepsis (1.1 vs 0.1%, P < .001), more SSIs (1.0 vs 0.1%, P < .001), longer mean hospital LOS (11.4 vs. 5.0, P < .001), longer mean ICU LOS (8.5 vs. 4.0, P < .001), higher rates of ICU use (68.6% vs. 35.1), and more ventilator use (42.4% vs. 7.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperglycemia is associated with increased odds of mortality in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia during hospitalization in non-diabetics was associated with the worst outcomes and represents a potential opportunity for intervention in this high-risk group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II (therapeutic/care management).

Prognostic Value of Stress Hyperglycemia in Patients Admitted to Medical/Geriatric Departments for Acute Medical Illness

INTRODUCTION

Hyperglycemia is common in patients admitted to Italian medical/geriatric units and is associated with a poorer outcome. We tested the significance of diabetes and stress-induced hyperglycemia in clinical outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients with hyperglycemia at entry (≥ 126 mg/dl) (206 without known diabetes) were included, with a wide range of underlying diseases requiring hospital admission and independent of the presence of diabetes. Relative hyperglycemia was calculated as admission glucose divided by average glucose, estimated based of glycosylated hemoglobin. Values ≥ 1.20 were considered indicative of stress hyperglycemia (SHR). The association of SHR with outcome variables (all-cause complications, infections, non-infectious events, deaths) was tested by logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, BMI, age-adjusted comorbidities (Charlson index) and known diabetes.

RESULTS

During hospital stay, one or more events were registered in 96 patients (25.4%); 44 patients died in hospital, and fatality rate was borderline higher in patients without diabetes (14.6% vs. 8.1% in diabetes; P = 0.052) and nearly three times higher in patients with stress hyperglycemia (15.0%) vs. those with SHR < 1.2 (P = 0.005). Stress hyperglycemia-more common in the absence of diabetes (71% vs. 58%)-and age were the only independent prognostic factors for death. At multivariable analysis, the risks of death (OR 4.31, 95% CI 1.25-14.81), of all complications (OR 5.90, 95% CI 2.22-15.71) and of newly developed systemic infections (OR 5.67, 95% CI 1.61-19.92) were associated with stress hyperglycemia in subjects without diabetes, as was the risk in non-insulin-treated cases (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.16-13.92; OR 5.47, 95% CI 2.21-13.52; OR 5.15, 95% CI 1.70-15.62, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The study confirms the prognostic value of stress-related hyperglycemia in patients requiring hospital admission to a geriatric/medical unit for a variety of acute medical conditions, contributing to adverse outcomes not limited to events commonly associated with hyperglycemia (e.g., infections).

A comparison of the stress hyperglycemia ratio, glycemic gap, and glucose to assess the impact of stress-induced hyperglycemia on ischemic stroke outcome

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to compare metrics specific for stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) with glucose for predicting ischemic stroke outcome.

METHODS

This observational retrospective study (n = 300) included patients acutely hospitalized for ischemic stroke over a 3.8-year period. We assessed the association between acute ischemic stroke outcome with the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR, relative increase in glycemia) and glycemic gap (GG, absolute increase in glycemia) using admission values and 5-day maximum values, along with incidence of poor outcome above recognized clinical thresholds of glucose 10 mmol/L, SHR 1.14, and GG 2.5 mmol/L.

RESULTS

At admission, only SHR was associated with outcome after adjustment for clinical covariates (odds ratio [OR] = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.05-7.91; P = .041), while glucose or GG were not. Admission SHR ≥ 1.14 was also an indicator of poor outcome (39.1% vs 23.4%, P = .016), but not glucose ≥10 mmol/L or GG ≥ 2.5 mmol/L. All 5-day maximum glucose metrics were associated with outcome, as was any SHR ≥ 1.14 (40.9% vs 20.1%, P < .001) or GG ≥ 2.5 mmol/L (42.9% vs 23.4%, P = .011), but not glucose ≥10 mmol/L. Increased comorbidity was strongly associated with worse outcome (P < .001) in all models.

CONCLUSIONS

SHR provided the best prognostic insight at admission to assess the relationship between SIH and ischemic stroke outcome. Absolute glucose levels failed to account for natural interpatient variation in background glycemia and provided little prognostic insight. To assess the impact of SIH, future interventional studies need to be designed using designated markers of SIH such as SHR in preference to absolute glucose.

Intraoperative Hyperglycemia May Be Associated with an Increased Risk of Myocardial Injury after Non-Cardiac Surgery in Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia in surgical candidates is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. We aimed to evaluate the effect of intraoperative blood glucose level on the incidence of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) in diabetic patients.

METHODS

Diabetic patients with available intraoperative blood glucose measurement during non-cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study. Based on the highest intraoperative blood glucose level, patients were stratified into two groups: the blood sugar glucose (BST) < 180 group (intraoperative peak glucose < 180 mg/dL) and BST ≥ 180 group (intraoperative peak glucose ≥ 180 mg/dL). The primary outcome was the incidence of MINS, and secondary outcomes were in-hospital and 30-day mortalities.

RESULTS

Of the 11,302 diabetic patients, 8337 were in the BST < 180 group (73.8%) and 2965 in the BST ≥ 180 group (26.2%). After adjustment with inverse probability weighting, MINS was significantly higher in the BST ≥ 180 group (24.0% vs. 17.2%; odds ratio (OR), 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-1.40; p < 0.001). In addition, in-hospital and 30-day mortalities were also higher in the BST ≥ 180 group compared to the BST < 180 group (4.2% vs. 2.3%, hazard ratio (HR), 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.81; p = 0.001, and 3.1% vs. 1.8%; HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31-2.36; p < 0.001, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic plots showed that the threshold of glucose level associated with MINS was 149 mg/dL.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative hyperglycemia was associated with an increased MINS incidence and postoperative mortality in diabetic patients. Close monitoring of intraoperative blood glucose level may be helpful in detection and management of MINS.

Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale Facilitated Diabetic Wound Healing by Elevating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides alternative treatment choices for diabetic wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale (ARE) on diabetic wounds and its underlying action mechanism. A total of 36 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) rats treated with ARE (DM-ARE), DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (DM-NS), and non-DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (NDM-NS). DM was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin after a 2-week high-fat diet feeding. After excisional skin wounds and treatments, the remaining wound area (RWA) in each group was measured. The RWA in the DM-NS group (69.60% ± 2.35%) was greater than that in the DM-ARE (55.70% ± 1.85%) and NDM-NS groups (52.50% ± 2.77%) on day 6. Besides, the DM-ARE group showed higher vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), higher inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), higher [Formula: see text]-smooth muscle actin ([Formula: see text]-SMA), and lower nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-[Formula: see text]B) expression in the wound skin tissue. These results showed that treatment with ARE shifted the recovery pattern of diabetic rats to the pattern of nondiabetic rats, indicating that ARE may improve wound healing in diabetic conditions.

Lack of recognition and documentation of stress hyperglycemia is a disruptor of optimal continuity of care

Stress hyperglycemia (SH) is a manifestation of altered glucose metabolism in acutely ill patients which worsens outcomes and may represent a risk factor for diabetes. Continuity of care can assess this risk, which depends on quality of hospital clinical documentation. We aimed to determine the incidence of SH and documentation tendencies in hospital discharge summaries and continuity notes. We retrospectively examined diagnoses during a 12-months period. A 3-months representative sample of discharge summaries and continuity clinic notes underwent manual abstraction. Over 12-months, 495 admissions had ≥ 2 blood glucose measurements ≥ 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL), which provided a SH incidence of 3.3%. Considering other glucose states suggestive of SH, records showing ≥ 4 blood glucose measurements ≥ 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) totaled 521 admissions. The entire 3-months subset of 124 records lacked the diagnosis SH documentation in discharge summaries. Only two (1.6%) records documented SH in the narrative of hospital summaries. Documentation or assessment of SH was absent in all ambulatory continuity notes. Lack of documentation of SH contributes to lack of follow-up after discharge, representing a disruptor of optimal care. Activities focused on improving quality of hospital documentation need to be integral to the education and competency of providers within accountable health systems.

Stress Hyperglycemia and Mortality in Subjects With Diabetes and Sepsis

Objectives:

Poor glycemic control is associated with mortality in critical patients with diabetes. The aim of the study was to assess the predicting value of stress hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes following hospital admission for sepsis.

Design:

Retrospective observational study.

Setting:

Adult, emergency department, and critical care in a district hospital.

Patients:

In a 10-year retrospective analysis of sepsis-related hospitalizations in the emergency department, we carried out a secondary analysis of 915 patients with diabetes (males, 54.0%) in whom both fasting glucose at entry and glycosylated hemoglobin were available.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Patients’ mean age was 79.0 (sd 11.0), glucose at admission was 174.0 mg/dL (74.3 mg/dL), and glycosylated hemoglobin was 7.7% (1.7%). Stress hyperglycemia was defined by the stress hyperglycemia ratio, that is, fasting glucose concentration at admission divided by the estimated average glucose derived from glycosylated hemoglobin. A total of 305 patients died (33.3%) in hospital. Factors associated with in-hospital case fatality rate were tested by multivariable logistic model. Ten variables predicting outcomes in the general population were confirmed in the presence of diabetes (male sex, older age, number of organ dysfunction diagnoses, in particular cardiovascular dysfunction, infection/parasitic, circulatory, respiratory, digestive diseases diagnosis, and Charlson Comorbidity Index). In addition, also glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin: odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.15–1.40) and stress hyperglycemia (stress hyperglycemia ratio: 5.25; 3.62–7.63) were significant case fatality rate predictors. High stress hyperglycemia ratio (≥ 1.14) significantly increased the discriminant capacity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.864; se, 0.013; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Stress hyperglycemia, even in the presence of diabetes, is predictive of mortality following admission for sepsis. Stress hyperglycemia ratio may be used to refine prediction of an unfavorable outcome.

Nurse-managed basal-bolus versus sliding-scale insulin regimen in subjects with hyperglycemia at admission for orthopedic surgery: a propensity score approach

AIMS

A sliding-scale (SS) regimen is discouraged to correct hyperglycemia in hospital patients, but there is resistance to adoption of basal-bolus (BB) treatment in surgical units. We tested the feasibility and the effects of a nurse-based BB regimen in orthopedic surgery.

METHODS

Following an intense training to implement a protocol amenable by nurses, a group of patients admitted with hyperglycemia in an orthopedic institute were prospectively followed according to a basal-bolus insulin regimen (BB, n = 80). They were compared with a hyperglycemic group eventually treated by sliding-scale insulin on demand (SS, n = 122). Diabetes was present in 196 cases. Metabolic control was assessed during the first 3 days of surgery; outcome data were tested by logistic regression, after adjusting for propensity score.

RESULT

Average blood glucose and glucose variability were lower in BB versus SS (P < 0.001), in the presence of similar 3-day insulin doses. Complications were recorded in 68 cases (16.2% vs. 45.1% in BB and SS, respectively). BB regimen was associated with propensity-adjusted reduction in all adverse events [odds ratio (OR) 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.76] and of systemic infections (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.07-0.50) and with shorter hospital stay (8.8 ± SD 5.2 days vs. 12.5 ± 7.4; P < 0.01). The superiority of BB regimen was confirmed in the pair-matched analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The study proves the feasibility and the superiority of nurse-based BB versus SS treatment in metabolic control and on the risk of adverse events in orthopedic surgery patients with hyperglycemia.