Admission Hypoglycemia Associated with Poorer Outcome in Pneumonia

In a prospective cohort of patients admitted with pneumonia, hypoglycemia was associated with increased short- and long-term mortality.

In patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), hyperglycemia is a recognized risk factor for short-term adverse events, including death. However, the role of hypoglycemia is not as well studied.

To determine whether hypoglycemia might also be a marker for poor outcome in CAP, researchers in Canada analyzed data prospectively collected on 2990 adults who were admitted to the hospital between 2000 and 2002 with this illness and had casual blood glucose level measurements taken at admission. Among the 956 patients who were identified with blood glucose levels ≤6.1 mmol/L, 54 (6%) had levels <4.0 mmol/L and were classified as hypoglycemic; the remaining 902 served as controls.

Patients with hypoglycemia were significantly more likely than c…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

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Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)