Abstract
Introduction: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a life threatening disease and one of the main causes of in-hospital mortality. Hyperglycemia secondary to diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance or stress-induced, occurs frequently in critically ill patients and is associated with adverse outcome. The relationship between hyperglycemia and outcome in APE patients has not been clearly defined.
Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the association between hyperglycemia and risk - adjusted mortality in APE patients.
Methods: We conducted a prospective, cohort study, between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2009. The patients with APE, admitted in the Ist Medical Cardiology Clinic, in “St Spiridon” University Hospital, Iasi were included. Hyperglycemia was defined as an admission or in-hospital fasting glucose level of 126 mg/dl (7 mmol/liter) or more or a random blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/liter) or more on 2 or more determinations.
Results: During the study period, we enrolled 326 patients with APE. Mean age of the patients was 62.3 years (range 16 - 95 years), 197 (60%) were females, 30 (9%) were in shock at admission and 36 (11.04%) had diabetes mellitus diagnosis before admission. Fifty seven patients died during hospital stay (17%). Multivariable analysis showed that hyperglycemia was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality in APE patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Hyperglycemia is an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality in APE.
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