Optimal Glucose Target After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Matched Cohort Study

Hyperglycemia has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, there remains debate as to what optimal glucose targets should be in this patient population.

To assess whether we could identify an optimal glucose target for patients with aSAH.

We performed a post hoc analysis of the "clazosentan to overcome neurological ischemia and infarction occurring after subarachnoid hemorrhage" trial data set. Patients had laboratory results drawn daily for the entirety of their intensive care unit stay. Maximum blood glucose levels were assessed for a relationship with unfavorable outcomes using multiple logistic regression analysis. Maximum blood glucose levels were dichotomized based on the Youden index, which identified a maximum level of <9.2 mmol/L as the optimal cut point for prediction of unfavorable outcomes. Nearest neighbor matching was used to assess the relationship between maintaining glucose levels below the cut point and unfavorable functional outcomes (defined as a modified Rankin score of >2 at 3 mo post-aSAH). The matching was performed after calculation of a propensity score based on identified predictors of outcome and glucose levels.

Three hundred eighty-nine patients were included in the matched analysis. Propensity scores were balanced on both the covariates and outcomes of interest. There was a significant average treatment effect (-0.143: 95% confidence interval -0.267 to -0.019) for patients who maintained glucose levels <9.2 mmol/L.

Maintaining glucose levels below the identified cut point was associated with a decreased risk for unfavorable outcomes in this retrospective matched study.