Glycated Hemoglobin Value Combined with Initial Glucose Levels for Evaluating Mortality Risk in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Background: Hyperglycemia is a marker of poor outcome in acute ischemic stroke (IS) patients. We aimed at evaluating the effect of combined HbA1c and first glucose measurement values on 3-month mortality prediction. Methods: In a prospective analysis, 1,317 first-ever IS patients with HbA1c values were classified by first glycemia value (<155, 155-199, ≥200 mg/dl). Three-month mortality was analyzed by glycemia category in nondiabetics, diabetics with good previous glucose control (PGC) (HbA1c <7%), and diabetics with poor PGC (HbA1c ≥7.0%). Results: Mortality at 3 months was 13.1%, with no differences (p = 0.339) between non-diabetes mellitus (DM) (12.3%), good PGC-DM (12.4%), and poor PGC-DM (15.6%) patients. The unadjusted relative risk of 3-month mortality for patients with glucose ≥200 mg/dl was 3.76 (95% CI 1.48-9.56) in non-DM, 6.10 (95% CI 1.76-21.09) in good PGC-DM, and 1.44 (95% CI 0.77-2.69) in poor PGC-DM. Glycemia cutoffs most highly correlated with mortality increased as PGC declined: 107 mg/dl in non-DM, 152 mg/dl in good PGC-DM, and 229 mg/dl in poor PGC-DM patients. Glycemia correlated with stroke severity in nondiabetics and diabetic patients with good PGC, but not in those with poor PGC. Conclusions: HbA1c determination combined with first measured glucose value is useful to stratify mortality risk in IS patients: hyperglycemia is a poor prognostic marker in non-DM and DM patients with good PGC; results are inconsistent in poor PGC-DM patients. Our data suggest the relationship between hyperglycemia and poor outcome reflects stress response rather than a deleterious effect of glucose. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or, in the case of photocopying, direct payment of a specified fee to the Copyright Clearance Center. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.