English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Hyperglycaemia is a common occurrence in children with critical illness. Several studies relate hyperglycaemia occurring during intensive care unit (ICU) admission to be associated with increased mortality. We wanted to evaluate the incidence of hyperglycaemia and its association with mortality among critically ill children. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted among critically ill children admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of a tertiary care centre, Raipur, Chhattisgarh in central India, from 1st May 2016 to 31st October 2016. All patients aged 1 month to 14 years who were admitted in PICU during this study period (N = 113) were included. Children who were known cases of diabetes mellitus, hepatic failure or renal failure requiring dialysis and children who left against medical advice (LAMA) or died within 24 hours of admission were excluded (N = 13). Thus 100 children were included in the study. RESULTS In the study population, incidence of hyperglycaemia was 60 %; overall 37 (37 %) died and the mortality rate was significantly higher (46.6 % vs. 19.4 %) in children with hyperglycaemia than in children without hyperglycaemia. Nonsurvivors had higher mean blood glucose levels at 48 hours (218.35 ± 87.42 mg / dL) than survivors (141.12 ± 55.26 mg / dL) (P < .001). Peak blood glucose (218.35 ± 87.42 mg / dL vs. 141.12 ± 55.26 mg / dL), need for mechanical ventilation (54.5 % vs. 27.3 %), need for inotropes (76.4 % vs. 23.5 %) and Paediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRISM) III (16.25 ± 5.46 vs. 9.06 ± 4.35) were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. On regression analysis, blood sugar at 24 hours and duration of stay were found to be significant. CONCLUSIONS In this study, in the PICU, the mortality rate was significantly higher in children with hyperglycaemia than in children without hyperglycaemia. Non-survivors had significantly higher mean blood glucose levels at 48 hours than survivors. Peak blood glucose, need for mechanical ventilation, need for inotropes and PRISM III scores were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. KEYWORDS Hyperglycaemia, Critically Ill, PICU, Outcome, Mortality