Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure

Abstract Heart failure is a significant global health challenge with high mortality rates. This study examines the association between glycemic variability and short-term mortality in critically ill heart failure patients. Data from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) and the Medical...

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Main Authors: Pengcheng Liu, Ziqi Li, Shanshan Tang, Weiguang Dou, Yuanyuan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16212-0
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author Pengcheng Liu
Ziqi Li
Shanshan Tang
Weiguang Dou
Yuanyuan Liu
author_facet Pengcheng Liu
Ziqi Li
Shanshan Tang
Weiguang Dou
Yuanyuan Liu
author_sort Pengcheng Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Heart failure is a significant global health challenge with high mortality rates. This study examines the association between glycemic variability and short-term mortality in critically ill heart failure patients. Data from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) and the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database were analyzed, including 23,744 heart failure patients. Glycemic variability, measured by the coefficient of variation of glucose levels during ICU stay, was categorized into quartiles. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations with in-hospital and 30-day mortality. Linear regression models were employed to evaluate the association with ICU length of stay. Dose-response relationships were explored using restricted cubic splines. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 15.0% and 17.6%, respectively. The median ICU length of stay was 3.1 days (IQR: 1.9–5.4). Patients in the highest glycemic variability quartile had a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.54–2.04) and 30-day mortality (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.23–1.53) compared to the lowest quartile. Additionally, higher glycemic variability was associated with prolonged ICU stays, with each unit increase resulting in a 2.57-day extension (95% CI: 2.03–3.10, P < 0.001) after adjustment for covariates. A U-shaped association was observed for in-hospital mortality, while a linear relationship was seen for 30-day mortality. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Elevated glycemic variability is independently associated with increased short-term mortality and prolonged ICU stays in critically ill heart failure patients, highlighting the importance of managing blood glucose fluctuations to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare resource utilization.
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spelling doaj-art-1a10a4a7acb64db2b3f77121c6085d922025-08-24T11:23:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-16212-0Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failurePengcheng Liu0Ziqi Li1Shanshan Tang2Weiguang Dou3Yuanyuan Liu4High Dependency Unit, Beijing Jianjia Rehabilitation HospitalDepartment of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater CommandHigh Dependency Unit, Beijing Jianjia Rehabilitation HospitalDepartment of Cardiology, Qingzhou People’s HospitalFaculty of Medicine, Qilu Institute of TechnologyAbstract Heart failure is a significant global health challenge with high mortality rates. This study examines the association between glycemic variability and short-term mortality in critically ill heart failure patients. Data from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) and the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database were analyzed, including 23,744 heart failure patients. Glycemic variability, measured by the coefficient of variation of glucose levels during ICU stay, was categorized into quartiles. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations with in-hospital and 30-day mortality. Linear regression models were employed to evaluate the association with ICU length of stay. Dose-response relationships were explored using restricted cubic splines. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 15.0% and 17.6%, respectively. The median ICU length of stay was 3.1 days (IQR: 1.9–5.4). Patients in the highest glycemic variability quartile had a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.54–2.04) and 30-day mortality (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.23–1.53) compared to the lowest quartile. Additionally, higher glycemic variability was associated with prolonged ICU stays, with each unit increase resulting in a 2.57-day extension (95% CI: 2.03–3.10, P < 0.001) after adjustment for covariates. A U-shaped association was observed for in-hospital mortality, while a linear relationship was seen for 30-day mortality. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Elevated glycemic variability is independently associated with increased short-term mortality and prolonged ICU stays in critically ill heart failure patients, highlighting the importance of managing blood glucose fluctuations to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare resource utilization.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16212-0Heart failureGlycemic variabilityMortalityPrognostic predictor
spellingShingle Pengcheng Liu
Ziqi Li
Shanshan Tang
Weiguang Dou
Yuanyuan Liu
Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
Scientific Reports
Heart failure
Glycemic variability
Mortality
Prognostic predictor
title Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
title_full Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
title_fullStr Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
title_full_unstemmed Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
title_short Association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
title_sort association between glycemic variability and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure
topic Heart failure
Glycemic variability
Mortality
Prognostic predictor
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16212-0
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