Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for stroke and has been shown that diabetic patients who suffer stroke have a worse prognosis, with greater morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: Determination of the prevalence of DM in hospitalised patients for ischaemic stroke. Comparison of demographic variables, complications prevalence, length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality among diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Assessment of glycaemic control and therapy used in the treatment of DM.

Methods: Observational, analytical, and prospective study of hospitalised patients for ischaemic stroke in Hospital de Braga between August and November 2013. Statistical analysis: SPSS v.20.

Results: Of the 134 patients, 30.6% had a previous diagnosis of DM, 79.9% were over 65 years, and 53.7% were women. The median age was 79 years with no statistical significance between groups (P=0.624). The median blood glucose at admission was 115 mg/dl, with statistical significance between groups (156 mg/dl vs 108 mg/dl; P<0.05). The median hospital stay was 10 days for both groups. Although, not statistically significant, the prevalence of neurological and infectious complications was lower in diabetic patients (24.4% vs 36.6%; P=0.167) as well as in-hospital mortality (2.4% vs 10.8%; P=0.106). There was no statistical significance between blood glucose on admission, prevalence of complications and in-hospital mortality. In the group of diabetic patients, the median HbA1c was 7.2%. There was no statistical significance between glycaemic control (HbA1c) and prevalence of complications or in-hospital mortality. About DM treatment at admission vs discharge: 61.0% vs 56.1% were treated with oral antidiabetics (OA), 17.1% vs 17.1% with insulin and OA, 9.8% vs 24.4% only with insulin, and 12.2% vs 2.4% without drug therapy.

Conclusion: Glycaemic control in the diabetic group is reasonable, in most patients, assuming the age, pre-existing comorbidities and chronic complications. We admit that the absence of a higher prevalence of complications and mortality in diabetic vs non-diabetic group, may be related to the small sample size.