Perioperative Glycemic Control and Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

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  • 25 May 2026
    • journal article
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perioperative hyperglycemia is a common metabolic response to surgical stress and has been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery. However, the optimal glycemic target in this setting remains uncertain, since both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can be harmful. This study aimed to evaluate the association between perioperative glucose levels and postoperative infection and in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery at a tertiary cardiovascular center. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included consecutive adult patients who underwent elective or emergency cardiac surgery between January 2021 and December 2022 at a tertiary cardiovascular center in Brazil. Perioperative glycemic exposure was defined using all glucose measurements recorded from anesthesia induction until hospital discharge or in-hospital death. Compliance with the blood glucose target (BGT) was defined as values within 70 to 180 mg/dL in ≥70% of measurements. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia were defined as at least 1 glucose measurement 180 mg/dL, respectively. Primary outcomes were postoperative infection and in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent associations. RESULTS A total of 157 patients were included (mean age 59.7±13.0 years). Postoperative infection occurred in 59.9% (n=94), and in-hospital mortality occurred in 8.9% (n=14). BGT compliance was observed in 78.3% of patients. Hypoglycemia occurred in 31.8%, and hyperglycemia in 82.8%. BGT compliance was independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.59; P=0.011). At least one episode of hyperglycemia was independently associated with postoperative infection (OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.38-10.35; P=0.010). CONCLUSIONS Perioperative glycemic patterns were associated with clinically relevant outcomes after cardiac surgery. Compliance with a moderate blood glucose target range (70-180 mg/dL) was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, whereas hyperglycemia >180 mg/dL was associated with postoperative infection. These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and need confirmation in larger prospective studies.

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