Hypoglycemia in sepsis: risk factors and clinical characteristics.

To determine risk factors for the development and clinical characteristics of hypoglycemia in patients with sepsis, a case-control study was performed in 52 case-patients who developed spontaneous hypoglycemia (plasma glucose < 50 mg/dl) during episodes of sepsis compared with 49 nondiabetic, control-patients who had sepsis as an immediate cause of death and did not develop hypoglycemia. The presence or absence of potential risk factors for the development of hypoglycemia which consisted of the state of starvation, malnutrition, renal insufficiency, acute or chronic liver disease and malignancy were evaluated in both groups as well as the clinical characteristics of hypoglycemia. The mean of the lowest plasma glucose levels in hypoglycemic patients was 23.4 +/- 14.9 (SD) mg/dl (range 3-47). One-third of patients were found having hypoglycemia since the time of arrival to the hospital. About 90 per cent had septic shock at the time of hypoglycemia. The mortality rate was 90 per cent; 80 per cent died within 48 hours after the first episode of hypoglycemia. Among those risk factors, starvation and liver disease were independently associated with the development of hypoglycemia with odd ratios of 6.38 (95% confidence interval 1.95-20.86; P = 0.002), and 3.59 (95% confidence interval 1.09-11.81; P = 0.035), respectively. In conclusion, hypoglycemia in patients with sepsis was associated with a grave prognosis. The risk of developing hypoglycemia increased significantly in patients who had been fasted for more than 24 hours or had acute or chronic liver disease at the time of sepsis.