The Relationship Between Admission Blood Glucose Level and Outcomes in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Abstract

Background and Objective: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) represents a major global health challenge. This study aimed to determine the impact of admission blood glucose levels on the clinical outcomes of patients with CAP, by assessing their correlation with adverse outcomes such as intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 30-day mortality.

Materials and Methods: This study included 103 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to Latakia University Hospital. Disease severity was evaluated using the CURB-65 score, and radiological assessments (CXR and CT) were performed. Blood glucose was measured within the first 3 hours of admission. Patients were stratified by medical history and glucose levels into three groups (<140, 140–200, and >200 mg/dL).​

Results: The sample comprised 63 males (61.2%) and 40 females (38.8%), with a mean age of 58.36 ± 20.1 years. Statistically significant increases in length of hospital stay (mean 10.76 ± 4.2 days), duration of antibiotic therapy (mean 11.52 ± 3.5 days ) oxygen requirement, mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and mortality rate correlated with elevated admission glucose levels (P < 0.05). A cutoff value of 159 mg/dL demonstrated 71.4% sensitivity and 74.4% specificity in predicting poor prognosis, with a stronger correlation observed among non-diabetic patients.​

Conclusion: Admission hyperglycemia is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and higher mortality rates in CAP patients, particularly non-diabetics, serving as a simple and useful prognostic biomarker for patient risk stratification.