Hypoglycemia in Hospitalized Nondiabetic Older Patients

Abstract

Hypoglycemic episodes occur even among nondiabetic hospitalized older patients. Symptoms and signs of hypoglycemia were noted in only two-fifths of the patients. Albumin less than 3.0 g%, liver disease, renal insufficiency, malignancy, congestive heart failure, and sepsis were statistically significant predictors of developing hypoglycemia. The overall mortality rate was significantly higher among the hypoglycemic patients and was independent of hypoglycemia levels. Mean total number of risk factors was significantly higher among those who died compared with hypoglycemic patients who survived. Based on the present study, the estimated odds of mortality in an older patient with hypoglycemia were 3.67 times higher than in those without hypoglycemia.