Blood Glucose Levels Not A Significant Predictor of Death for ICU Patients With COVID-19

Glycemic control is not an independent predictor of mortality or length of stay for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the results of a poster presented at the American Diabetes Association Virtual 81st Scientific Sessions.

The study was a multi-center retrospective study of 108 patients over 18 years old who were admitted to either the intensive care unit (ICU) or the noncritical units of a hospital. It was conducted from January 1, 2020, to September 29, 2020.

All the patients in this study were diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia as well as diabetes or newly diagnosed hyperglycemia (an admitting glucose level of 126 mg/dL or greater, or 2 random glucose levels greater than 200 mg/dL while hospitalized).

The study results found that the mortality rate of patients, the length of stay of ICU patients, or the total hospital length of stay (LOS), was not significantly affected regardless of if their mean hospital blood glucose level (CGB) was above or below 180 mg/dL. The study included patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Pneumonia diagnosis was confirmed by ICD-10 diagnosis codes as well as chest imaging pulmonary infiltrates.

According to the results, the mortality rate of patients, the length of stay of patients in the ICU, and the total hospital length of stay (LOS), was not significantly affected regardless of whether their mean hospital blood glucose level (CGB) was above or below 180 mg/dL.

Additionally, patients treated with dexamethasone were evaluated separately from untreated patients. For both groups, the hospital glycemic control results again were the same as there was no significant effect on mortality or hospital or ICU LOS in either group for patients with COVID-19 in this study.

The authors concluded that glycemic control has no significant effect on mortality or hospital LOS in patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia. This study controlled the pneumonia prognostic factors.

Reference

1. Jakoby M, Williams V, Ward S, Lee S, et al. Glycemic control is not an independent predictor of mortality or length of stay for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.Presented at: American Diabetes Association Virtual 81st Scientific Sessions; June 25-29, 2021; online. Accessed June 25, 2021.