Méndez-García JA, Romero-Robles LA, Tenorio-Aguirre EK, Mateos-Santa Cruz N, Torres-Tamayo M, Zacarías-Castillo R

Language: Spanish
References: 9
Page: 142-147
PDF size: 227.84 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Intensive glycaemic control has been suggested as an effective treatment to reduce cardiovascular complications in people with diabetes. Current guidelines recommend a target glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c) of 7% or less. The results of major randomised clinical trials on the benefits of such treatment are controversial. Reports of potentially raised mortality rates associated with intensive glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, specifically does relating to the optimum target for HbA1c.
Objective: To describe if levels of HbA_1c ‹6.5% or ›8.0% were associated with an increased mortality in hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients in “Dr. Manuel Gea González” General Hospital.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 428 patients with type 2 diabetes during the periods between January 1^st 2006 to March 31^st 2011. For the statistical analysis we divided the patients into a survival group (n=340) and a nonsurvival group (n=88), both groups were compered using student t test for independent samples and χ² test, statistical significance was considered to be p=‹0.05.
Results: The levels of HbA_1c were similar in the survival group and the non-survival group and the percentage of patients with HbA_1c ‹6.5% were also similar. The mortality was no greater when the levels of HbA_1c were ‹6.5% or higher ›8.0% compared to does with levels between 6.6 and 7.9%. However 56.8% of the non-survival group had a HbA_1c level ≥ 8.0%, compared to 43.2% of those who survived, p=0.026.
Conclusions: There was no increased mortality in patients with HbA_1c levels ‹6.5%. The HbA_1c levels ≥ 8.0% were associated with an increase mortality in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes.

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