Glycemic gap increases mortality risk in critically ill diabetes patients: Study

China: An article published in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine states that Glycemic Gap is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality in critically ill diabetic patients. ICU mortality outcomes can be improved by controlling and maintaining blood glucose levels close to outpatient/baseline levels.

A glycemic gap is a marker of glycemic excursion in patients with diabetes admitted to ICU and can be used to predict adverse outcomes in such patients.Dysglycemia( any abnormalities in blood glucose levels) is associated with poor outcomes in critically ill patients but this is uncertain in diabetic patients in regards to glucose control before hospitalization.

A research team consisting of Ran Lou, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, China, and colleagues investigated the effect of the difference between the level of blood glucose during ICU stay and before admission to ICU on the outcomes of critically ill patients with diabetes.

431 patients were included in this retrospective observational cohort study that evaluated the impact of glycemic control in the critical care setting compared with baseline control and its impact on mortality. Patients were divided into survival groups and nonsurvival groups according to survival or not at 28-day, and the relationship between GAP and mortality was analyzed.