Newly diagnosed hyperglycemia and stress hyperglycemia in a coronary intensive care unit

AimsTo determine prevalence of newly diagnosed hyperglycemia (NDH) among patients with acute coronary disease, inquire relationship of stress hyperglycemia (SH) with functional outcomes.MethodsAdmission (APG) and first morning fasting plasma glucose (FPG) measurements were obtained, capillary glucose measurements (CGM) every 6-h within first day were performed—Group 1: Normoglycemics. Group 2: NDH cases: No known diabetes, APG > 200 mg/dl and/or FPG > 126 and/or any of CGM > 200. Group 2a: unrecognized glycemic disorder, HbA1c > 6.0%. Group 2b: stress hyperglycemia, HbA1c < 6.0%. Group 3: Recognized diabetes. Duration of ICU stays, APACHE-II scores were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was performed using ICU stay as dependent variable and age, groups, co-morbidities, problems in hospital, APACHE-II scores, CGMs were used as independent risk factors.ResultsThere were 255 (51.6%) in Group 1, 82 (16.6%) in Group 2; 37 (7.5%) cases in Group 2a, 45 (9.1%) in Group 2b and 157 (31.8%) in Group 3. Group 2b spent longer time in ICU, had higher APACHE-II scores (p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001). Regression analysis demonstrated SH as an independent risk factor for duration of ICU stay (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3–6.2).ConclusionsHyperglycemia was present in 48.4%; 16.6% had NDH, 9.1% had SH. Poor functional conditions of SH cases pointed that they need to be considered carefully.