Stress hyperglycemia may have higher risk of stroke recurrence than previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

We aim to evaluate the risk of stroke recurrence among non-diabetes mellitus (non-DM), previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus (PDDM), newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus-related hyperglycemia (NDDM-RH) and stress hyperglycemia after minor stroke or TIA. Totally, 3026 patients with baseline fasting glucose and glycated albumin from the CHANCE trial (Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events) were included. Patients were classified as non-DM, PDDM, NDDM-RH and stress hyperglycemia according to the status of glucose metabolism. The primary outcome was stroke recurrence during 90-day follow up. Cox regression was performed to estimate the relationship between the status of glucose metabolism and risk of 90-day stroke recurrence. Compared with PDDM, NDDM-RH had a similar risk of 90-day stroke recurrence (hazard ratios [HR]1.39, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.94-2.04), while stress hyperglycemia had approximately a 5.3-fold increased risk of 90-day stroke recurrence after adjusted for confounding covariates (HR 5.32, 95% CI 3.43-8.26). Parallel results were found for 90-day recurrent ischemic stroke and composite events. Compared with PDDM in minor stroke or TIA, a parallel risk of 90-day stroke recurrence were observed for NDDM-RH, while stress hyperglycemia might relate to higher risk of 90-day stroke recurrence.