Effects of Different Blood Glucose Levels on Critically Ill Patients in an Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Aims: We explore the infection incidence and possible prognostic outcome relevance for patients with different blood glucose levels in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A total of 98 cases were enrolled and divided into three groups based on average fasting blood glucose levels (group A: ≤6.1 mmol/l; group B: 6.1-10 mmol/l; group C: ≥10 mmol/l). Results: There were no statistical differences in the time to ICU admission, the indwelling durations of gastric tubes, urinary or deep vein catheters, tracheal intubations and tracheotomies, or the length of ventilator use (all p > 0.05). No evident difference in the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome rate was found between the three groups (p = 0.226). The infection and mortality rates between the groups showed significant differences (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, the difference of respiratory system infections was statistically significant among the three groups (p = 0.008), yet no such statistical difference was observed among groups regarding nonrespiratory system infections (p = 0.227). Conclusions: Critically ill patients with a high blood glucose level were positively correlated with a relatively high APACHE II score and more serious degree of disease, as well as a higher incidence of respiratory infection during their ICU stay than those with lower blood glucose levels (<10 mmol/l).