Long-term prognostic significance of stress hyperglycemia in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Background/aim Stress hyperglycemia is defined as hyperglycemia that occurs in critically ill patients without diabetes mellitus (DM). It is associated with adverse in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of the present study is to evaluate short- and long-term prognostic impact of stress hyperglycemia in STEMI patients. Method We analysed 2505 consecutive STEMI patients treated with successful primary PCI (pPCI) without previous DM and without cardiogenic shock at admission. Successful pPCI was defined as post-procedural flow TIMI 3. Stress hyperglycemia was defined as plasma glucose level above 7.8mmol/L at any time during hospitalization. The follow-up period was 6 years. Results Stress hyperglycemia at admission was registered in 685 (27.3%) patients. Compared with patients without stress hyperglycemia, patients with stress hyperglycemia were older and presented more often with heart failure (Killip class II and III); they were more likely to have hypertension, chronic kidney disease, three vessel coronary disease (at initial angiogram) and lower predischarge left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). In-hospital, 30-day and 6-year mortality were significantly higher in patients with stress hyperglycemia vs patients without stress hyperglycemia: 7.1% vs 1.5%, 7.5% vs 1.7% and 12.5% vs 4.6% (p<0.001), respectively as shown in Figure 1. In Cox regression analysis stress hyperglycemia was an independent predictor for in-hospital, 30-days and 6-year mortality- HR 2.19 (95% 1.49-3.94), p=0.018, HR 1,58(95%CI 1.15-2.85), p=0.020 and HR 1.52 (95%CI 1.32-2.17), p=0.030, respectively. Conclusion In STEMI patients without diabetes mellitus treated with successful primary PCI stress hyperglycemia is an independent predictor for short- and long-term mortality (up to 6-years). These findings emphasize the importance of close monitoring of blood glucose level in STEMI patients regardless of diabetic status.