Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia Predicts Poor Outcomes in Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients

The current literature suggests hyperglycemia can predict poor outcomes in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Chronic hyperglycemia is seen in patients with pre-existing diabetes (DM); however, acute hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients is defined as stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH). This study explored the influence of hyperglycemia on outcomes of primary ICH patients both in the presence and absence of pre-existing DM.

Data regarding admission glucose, pre-existing DM, inpatient mortality, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge were available for 636 patients admitted to Stony Brook Hospital from January 2011 to December 2022 with a primary diagnosis of ICH. Regression models were used to compare outcomes between patients with admission hyperglycemia and/or pre-existing DM to a control group of normoglycemic and non-diabetic ICH patients.

Patients with SIH had higher inpatient mortality rates and worse mRS scores at discharge (p < 0.001). An association with higher mortality and worse mRS scores at discharge was also seen in patients with hyperglycemia secondary to DM, although the strength of this association was weaker when compared to patients with SIH.

Our findings suggest that SIH may play a greater role in predicting poor outcomes at discharge rather than a history of poorly controlled DM with chronic hyperglycemia. To develop a more thorough understanding of this topic, prospective studies evaluating the effect of changes in serum glucose during hospital stay on short and long-term outcomes is needed.