Increased glucose variability is associated with major adverse events in patients with infective endocarditis undergo...

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of glucose variability (GV) in predicting postoperative major adverse events (MAEs) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) who underwent surgical treatment.

This retrospective observational study included a total of 381 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment in our institution from October 2007 to August 2019. The MAEs included all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, IE recurrence, acute renal failure and sepsis. Postoperative GV in the first 24 hours was measured by the mean 24-hour glucose, standard deviation, coefficient of variation (CV) and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent association of GV with MAEs.

Of the 381 patients, 79 (20.7%) developed MAEs. The 30-day mortality of the overall study cohort was 5.23%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that 24-hour GV, measured as the CV [odds ratio (OR) =1.49, 95% CI, 1.23-3.57, P=0.012], was significantly associated with MAEs in IE patients. For every 10% increase in 24-hour CV, there was a 49% increase in the risk of MAEs. Furthermore, compared to patients in the low tertile of GV, patients in the top tertile of 24-hour GV had a higher 30-day mortality and an increased incidence of heart failure and hemodialysis as well as longer ventilation support.

The results of this retrospective investigation demonstrated that increased GV measured by CV is an independent predictor of postoperative MAEs in patients undergoing surgical treatment for IE.