Inpatient glycemic variability and long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes

Joseph G. Timmons, Scott G. Cunningham, Christopher A. R. Sainsbury, Gregory C. Jones (Lead / Corresponding author)

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    Abstract

    Aims/Hypothesis: To determine the association between inpatient glycemic variability and long-term mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    Methods: Capillary blood glucose (CBG) of inpatients from 8 hospitals was analysed. 28,353 admissions identified were matched for age, duration of diabetes and admission and median and interquartile range of CBG. 6year mortality was investigated for (i) those with CBG IQR in the top half of all IQR measurements (matched for all except IQR), vs those in the lower half and (ii) those with the lowest quartile median glucose (matched for all except median).

    Results:

    1. Glycemic variability

    3165 matched pairs were analysed. Mortality was greater in those with IQR in upper 50% (≥50.9 mg/dl)over follow-up from day 90 post-discharge to a maximum of 6 years (p<0.01, HR 1.17).

    2. Median glucose

    2.3755 matched pairs were analysed. Mortality was lower in those with a median glucose in upper 50% (≥148.5 mg/dl) over follow-up from day 90 post-discharge to a maximum of 6 years (p < 0.01, HR 0.87).

    Conclusion: Higher inpatient glycemic variability is associated with increased mortality on long-term follow up. When matched by IQR, we have demonstrated higher median CBG is associated with lower long-term mortality. CBG variability may increase cardiovascular morbidity by increasing exposure to hypoglycaemia or to variability per se. In hospitalized patients with diabetes, glycemic variability should be minimised and when greater CBG variability is unavoidable, a less stringent CBG target considered.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)479-482
    Number of pages4
    JournalJournal of Diabetes and its Complications
    Volume31
    Issue number2
    Early online date14 Jun 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Feb 2017

    Keywords

    • Diabetes
    • Glucose variability
    • Hypoglycaemia
    • Inpatient care
    • Mortality

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