PREVALENCE OF STRESS HYPERGLYCEMIA AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Objective: To determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics as sociated with stress hyperglycemia among children and adolescents atte nding a pediatric emergency department. Design: Patients who required a venipuncture for evaluation of an acute illness or injury from Octob er 1992 to March 1993 in an urban pediatric emergency department were enrolled and screened prospectively for hyperglycemia (glucose level g reater than or equal to 8.3 mmol/L; greater than or equal to 150 mg/dl ). Data were collected regarding demographic characteristics, history, clinical findings, and admission status. Results: A total of 926 pati ents ranging in age from 3 days to 21 years were enrolled. Blood gluco se values ranged from 1.94 mmol/L (35 mg/L) to 14.65 mmol/L (264 mg/dl ); 35 patients (3.8%) had hyperglycemia. The prevalence of stress hype rglycemia was significantly increased among patients if they (I) had t emperatures greater than 39.5 degrees C (9.3%) versus normal temperatu res (2.8%) (p < 0.001), (2) had been admitted to a critical care unit of the hospital (24.1%) or to any hospital unit (4.4%) versus not havi ng been admitted (2.6%) (p < 0.001), and (3) had received fluids intra venously (6.0%) versus having received no fluids intravenously (2.7%) (p = 0.014).