The effect of different types of oral or intravenous corticosteroids on capillary blood glucose levels in hospitalized inpatients with and without diabetes.

PURPOSE: This study investigated: (1) the type of corticosteroid associated with the greatest degree of hyperglycemia, assessed using bedside capillary blood glucose monitoring, in hospitalized patients; and (2) the pattern of hyperglycemia throughout the day with the use of each type of corticosteroid. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study used data from 964 adult inpatients receiving oral or IV corticosteroids. Data on capillary blood glucose concentrations and time taken over 7 days were collected. A mixed model for repeated measures was applied to investigate changes in glucose concentration over time with the use of four different corticosteroids. An autoregressive covariance structure was used to model correlations between repeated measurements. FINDINGS: Across all 7 days, the mean blood glucose concentration was greater with dexamethasone compared to that with hydrocortisone (mean difference, 16.6 mg/dL [95% CI, 8.1-24.8] [0.92 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.45-1.38)]) or prednisolone (mean difference, 20.0 mg/dL [95% CI, 14.2-25.7] [1.11 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.79-1.43)]). The mean blood glucose concentration was greater with methylprednisolone compared to that with hydrocortisone (mean difference, 23.9 mg/dL [95% CI, 11.3-36.4] [1.33 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.63-2.02)]), and with methylprednisolone versus prednisolone (mean difference, 27.4 mg/dL [95% CI, 16.4-38.3] [1.52 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.91-2.13)]). There were no significant differences in the patterns of hyperglycemia at six time points of the day with each type of corticosteroid. IMPLICATIONS: Treatment with oral or IV dexamethasone or methylprednisolone was associated with greater hyperglycemia in comparison to prednisolone and hydrocortisone. More vigorous monitoring and intervention, when necessary, are suggested in adult inpatients receiving corticosteroids, in particular dexamethasone and methylprednisolone.

Differential effects of oral versus intravenous hydrocortisone and dexamethasone on capillary blood glucose levels in adult inpatients - a single centre study.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids raise blood glucose concentrations; however, it remains unknown which form of administration, oral or intravenous, is associated with the greatest degree of blood glucose rise in hospitalised patients. Furthermore, whether the pattern of the associated hyperglycaemia throughout the day differs depending on the route of administration. METHODS: This was a single centre retrospective study of 384 adult inpatients receiving oral or intravenous hydrocortisone and dexamethasone. Data on capillary glucose concentrations and time taken over seven days were collected. A mixed model for repeated measures was applied to compare changes in glucose concentration over time for oral and intravenous corticosteroids. An auto-regressive covariance structure was employed to model correlations between repeated measurements. This was adjusted for age, sex, pre-admission diabetes, and/or pre-admission corticosteroid status. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between oral and intravenous hydrocortisone on day one or across all seven days (Mean Difference 0.17mmol/l (-1.39, 1.75), p=0.827, and Mean Difference 0.20mmol/l (-0.61, 1.01), p=0.639 respectively). There were no differences in mean glucose concentrations between those on oral or intravenous dexamethasone on day one or across all seven days (Mean Difference 0.41mmol/l (-0.55,1.38), p=0.404 and Mean Difference -0.09mmol/l (-1.05,0.87), p=0.855respectively). CONCLUSION: This study found that oral and intravenous administration of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, do not have a significantly differing impact on blood glucose levels. Capillary glucose monitoring is strongly recommended in all individuals who are on either oral or intravenous corticosteroids.