Hyperglycemia predicts adverse prognosis in advanced pancreatic cancer patients

Using a prospectively maintained database, information was collected on patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. the patients were divided into the hyperglycemia group (fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L) and the normoglycemia group (fasting blood glucose < 7.0 mmol/L). Patients with preexisting diabetes were not included in these groups. The associations between hyperglycemia and clinical variables or prognosis were analyzed. 

Key findings of the study:

• Nearly 25.3% were diagnosed with hyperglycemia, among 697 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and no prior history of diabetes. 
• A higher risk of developing hyperglycemia was observed in patients older than 65 years (P = 0.044).
• Worse prognosis was seen in patients with hyperglycemia than those with normoglycemia (median survival, 7.5 vs. 8.8 months, P < 0.001).
• An increased mortality was associated with Hyperglycemia in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio = 1.38; P = 0.003).

Thus, hyperglycemia predicted the overall survival in patients with advanced pancreatic disease. 

Further reading: Zhu, X., Xu, H., Xiao, Z. et al. Hyperglycemia predicts adverse prognosis in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Endocrine (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-022-03196-4