Association between Admission Blood Glucose Levels and Clinical Outcomes among Diabetic Adults Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chennai, India: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Admission blood glucose levels have an impact on hospitalisation and Length Of Stay (LOS). Uncontrolled blood glucose levels have been found to affect patients’ outcomes. Elevation of the initial blood glucose level during critical diagnosis was identified as an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality in critical cases. Aim: To examine the association between admission blood glucose levels and clinical outcomes in adult diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Data were collected between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, using non-probability convenience sampling from 522 records of adult diabetic patients admitted between January 2019 and March 2020. Capillary random blood glucose levels at the time of admission and their effects on LOS, both in the hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), readmission, and mortality data were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: Analysis of the records of 522 adult diabetic patients revealed that the mean and standard deviation (SD) of admission Capillary Blood Glucose (CBG) level were 177.46±49.42 mg/ dL, and the mean LOS in the hospital was 4.54±3.89 days. It was found that 340 (65.1%) patients had an admission duration of ≤4 days. There was a statistically significant association between admission blood glucose levels and LOS in the hospital (p-value=0.01), LOS in the ICU (p-value=0.008), readmission to the hospital (p-value=0.001), and mortality rate (p-value=0.0001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that admission blood glucose levels are associated with the clinical outcomes of patients. These findings substantiate the need for maintaining normal glycemic levels through patient education and a proactive team approach to improve patient outcomes.