Transient Stress Hyperglycemia Increases Risk of Subsequent Diabetes

In a retrospective observational study, the researchers included 224,534 in-patients with blood culture records. They determined stress hyperglycemia on the highest random glucose level ≥7.8 mmol/L during the index admission period. They used Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression to assess the differences in cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) of diabetes between groups.

Key findings of the study:

• Upon analysis, the researchers found that bacteremic patients with stress hyperglycemia had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of diabetes (HR 1.7) compared with those who remained normoglycemic.
• They also found that stress hyperglycemia was confirmed to be a diabetes predictor independent of age, sex, comorbidity, and other serological markers.
• For the nonbacteremic patients, they noted that the stress hyperglycemia was similarly associated with a higher cumulative incidence of diabetes (HR 1.4).

The authors concluded, "Hospitalized patients with transient stress hyperglycemia had a higher risk of subsequent diabetes development compared with their normoglycemic counterparts. Recognition of an increased risk of diabetes in these patients can allow early detection and monitoring in their subsequent follow-ups".

For further information:

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-1682

Keywords:

Transient Stress Hyperglycemia, hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, nonbacteremic patients, bacteremic patients, normoglycemia, early detection, Diabetes Care.