Hyperglycemia at admission and during hospital stay are independent risk factors for mortality in high risk cardiac patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit

Hyperglycemia is associated with increased mortality in cardiac patients. However, the predictive value of admission- and average glucose levels in patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) has not been described. Observational study of patients admitted to the ICCU of a tertiary medical center in whom glucose levels were measured at and during admission. Over a 19-month period, 1713 patients were included. Mean age was 63±14 years, 1228 (72%) were male, 228 (17%) had known diabetes. Median (interquartile) glucose levels at admission were 7.9 (6.5–10.1) mmol/l; median glucose levels during ICCU admission (873 patients with three or more measurements) were 7.3 (6.7–8.3) mmol/l. Cox regression analysis was performed including the variables age, gender, admission diagnosis, length of stay, prior (cardio)vascular disease and diabetes. A 1 mmol/l increase in admission glucose level (above 9 mmol/l) was associated with a 10% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7 –13%) increased risk for all-cause mortality. A 1 mmol/l higher average glucose level (above 8 mmol/l) was an additional independent predictor of mortality (HR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.20). At 30 days, 16.8% (97/579) of the patients with an admission glucose level in the highest tertile (9.8 mmol/L) had died vs 5.2% (59/1134) of those with a lower admission glucose level. In a high risk ICCU population, both high admission glucose levels as well as high average glucose levels during hospitalization were independently associated with increased mortality, even when accounting for other risk factors and parameters of disease severity.