Relationship Between Morbidity and Mortality and HbA1c Levels in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Major Surgery

To investigate the relationship between the preoperative HbA1c levels and the complications and mortality rates in the postoperative period in patients with diabetes undergoing a major surgical treatment.

Descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: Deparment of Internal Medicine, Adana Numune Research and Training Hospital, Turkey, from January 2015 to December 2016.

Diabetic patients, who underwent major surgery (a large resection) having preoperative HbA1c levels, were considered. A total of 1,013 patients, whose file data were completely accessed, were included in the study. Preoperative HbA1c levels of the patients and complications seen within the first 7 and first 30 days postoperatively were recorded.

Fourty-nine (4.8%) of the patients were exitus in the hospital, while 964 (95.2%) of the patients were discharged. Preoperative HbA1c levels of the patients were found to be predictive marker of mortality and complications in the first 7 and 30 days postoperatively (p <0.001).

HbA1c levels are important in preoperative surgical risk assessment in diabetic patients. Better provision of long-term glycemic control in patients planned elective surgery and have low levels of HbA1c may significantly reduce postoperative mortality and complications.