medwireNews: Diabetes and elevated levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are associated with poor outcomes after surgery, researchers report.
In an analysis of 7565 surgical inpatients, 9% of the 2283 patients with diabetes died within 6 months of surgery, compared with 6% of their counterparts without diabetes, translating into a 29% increased risk for mortality among patients with diabetes on multivariable analysis.
Diabetes was also associated with a significantly higher risk for major complications, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation, and longer hospital stay, report the researchers in Diabetes Care.
Moreover, poor glycemic control conferred a significantly increased risk per each 1% increase in HbA1c for major complications, ICU admission, and longer hospital admission, but not 6-month mortality or need for mechanical ventilation.
“Logically, therefore, patients with diabetes and especially those with high HbA1c should be triaged to pathways of care dedicated to higher-risk populations,” conclude Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia) and team.
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