Hypoglycemia Is Associated with Excess Risk for Death in Critically Ill Patients

Even mild hypoglycemia was associated with elevated mortality.

In the NICE-SUGAR trial, intensive insulin therapy raised risks for severe hypoglycemia and 90-day mortality in critically ill patients, compared with conventional treatment (JW Gen Med Mar 24 2009). In this retrospective study that involved two Australian intensive care units and 4946 patients, investigators assessed the association between hypoglycemia and mortality in critically ill patients.

Overall, 1109 patients (22%) experienced at least one episode of hypoglycemia (blood glucose level, <81 mg/dL). In-hospital mortality was significantly greater among patients who experienced hypoglycemia than among normoglycemic patients (37% vs. 20%). Multivariate analysis revealed that illness severity and severity of hypoglycemia, but not receipt …

Reviewing Author

Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose