Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to analyze the dynamics of blood glucose during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and the association between in-hospital mortality and blood glucose in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors (OHCA) treated with TH.
METHODS
The OHCA treated with TH between 2008 and 2011 were identified and analyzed. Blood glucose values were measured every hour during TH and collected. Mean blood glucose and standard deviation (SD) were calculated using blood glucose values during the entire TH period and during each phase of TH. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.
RESULTS
One hundred twenty patients were analyzed. The non-shockable rhythm (OR = 8.263, 95% CI 1.622-42.094, p = 0.011) and mean glucose value during induction (OR = 1.010, 95% CI 1.003-1.016, p = 0.003) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The blood glucose values decreased with time, and median glucose values were 161.0 (116.0-228.0) mg/dl, 128.0 (102.0-165.0) mg/dl, and 105.0 (87.5-129.3) mg/dl during the induction, maintenance, and rewarming phase, respectively. The 241 (180-309) mg/dl of the median blood glucose value before TH was significantly lower than 183 (133-242) mg/dl of the maximal median blood glucose value during the cooling phase (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
High blood glucose was associated with in-hospital mortality in OHCA treated with TH. Therefore, hyperglycaemia during TH should be monitored and managed. The blood glucose decreased by time during TH. However, it is unclear whether TH itself, insulin treatment or fluid resuscitation with glucose-free solutions affects hypoglycaemia.

• Keywords: glucose;heart arrest;induced hypothermia;mortality;