U−shaped association between the glycemic variability and prognosis in hemorrhagic stroke patients: a retrospective cohort study from the MIMIC-IV database

 Useless, describes a problem; provides NO solution!

U−shaped association between the glycemic variability and prognosis in hemorrhagic stroke patients: a retrospective cohort study from the MIMIC-IV database

Yuchen Liu^1†Houxin Fu^2†Yue Wang³Jingxuan Sun¹Rongting Zhang¹Yi Zhong¹Tianquan Yang¹Yong Han¹Yongjun Xiang¹Bin Yuan¹Ruxuan Zhou¹Min Chen¹Hangzhou Wang^1*

• ¹Department of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
• ²Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
• ³Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Background: Elevated glycemic variability (GV) is commonly observed in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and has been associated with clinical outcomes. However, the relationship between GV and prognosis in ICU patients with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between GV and short- and long-term all-cause mortality.

Methods: Clinical data for hemorrhagic stroke (HS) patients were obtained from the MIMIC-IV 3.1 database. GV was quantified using the coefficient of variation (CV), calculated as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean blood glucose level. The association between GV and clinical outcomes was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Additionally, restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were employed to examine the nonlinear relationship between GV and short- and long-term all-cause mortality.

Results: A total of 2,240 ICU patients with HS were included in this study. In fully adjusted models, RCS analyses revealed a U-shaped association between the CV and both short- and long-term all-cause mortality (P for nonlinearity < 0.001 for all outcomes). Two-piecewise Cox regression models were subsequently applied to identify CV thresholds. The thresholds for all-cause mortality in ICU, during hospitalization, and at 30, 90, and 180 days were determined to be 0.14, 0.16, 0.155, 0.14, and 0.14, respectively. These findings were consistent in sensitivity and subgroup analyses.

Conclusions: In HS patients, higher GV is associated with an increased risk of both short- and long-term all-cause mortality. Our findings suggest that stabilizing GV may improve the prognosis of HS patients.(Where the fuck is the protocol that does that? Your mentors and senior researchers need to be fired for incompetency?)

Background

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is the second leading cause of death worldwide, surpassed only by cardiovascular disease (1–3). Stroke, a major component of CVD, has been identified by the World Health Organization as the primary cause of long-term disability globally (4, 5). Although hemorrhagic stroke (HS) accounts for only 10–20% of all stroke cases, it is responsible for nearly half of all stroke-related deaths (6, 7). With an aging global population, the burden of stroke continues to rise, with HS patients in intensive care units (ICU) facing an elevated mortality risk (8). Consequently, identifying prognostic markers for predicting adverse outcomes in HS patients is essential. Historically, assessment tools such as the NIH Stroke Scale and the Canadian Neurological Scale have been widely utilized (9). Despite their utility, these scales are limited by their complexity, time requirements, and the need for specialized training.

Recently, glycemic variability (GV), a parameter of glycemic control, has emerged as a potential factor influencing the progression of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions (10–13). GV reflects fluctuations in blood glucose levels relative to the mean and represents a key pattern of glycemic dysregulation observed in critically ill patients. Compared to persistent hyperglycemia, pronounced glycemic variability has been demonstrated to exacerbate endothelial dysfunction and trigger oxidative stress, potentially leading to more severe cerebrovascular damage (14–16). Moreover, both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia were recognized as significant factors influencing stroke prognosis (16). Despite this, the impact of glycemic variability on HS patients has been understudied and remains a topic of debate in clinical practice (17, 18).

To address this gap, the present study examined the association between glycemic variability and short-term and long-term all-cause mortality in HS patients. The findings aimed to support clinicians in identifying high-risk individuals, facilitating closer monitoring and timely therapeutic interventions.

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