Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State

Lack of clinician familiarity and nonspecific symptoms can hinder prompt recognition of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS). In this study, researchers used data from a nationwide registry in Denmark to report renal function and acid/base status among 634 patients (median age, 69) who were hospitalized with HHS from 2016 to 2018 and to estimate population incidence rates of HHS among patients with known diabetes. HHS was defined as an admission blood glucose of >600 mg/dL with plasma osmolarity of >320 mOsm/kg H₂O. Patients with concomitant HHS and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) were identified using administrative data. Clinical information (e.g., presence of hypovolemia or encephalopathy) was not captured in the registry.

Key findings were…