Early Hyperglycemia Is a Risk Factor for Death and White Matter Reduction in Preterm Infants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether hyperglycemia during the first week of life in extremely preterm (EPT) infants was associated with increased mortality rates and with cerebral injury, as assessed with MRI of the brain, at term-equivalent age. METHODS: All 143 EPT infants (gestational ages of 8.3 mmol/L. RESULTS: Hyperglycemia occurring on the first day of life was identified as an independent risk factor for death (adjusted odds ratio: 3.7 [95% confidence interval: 1.3–10.6]; P = .01). Hyperglycemia occurring on the first day of life also was a risk factor for WM reduction, as determined through MRI, at term-equivalent age (adjusted odds ratio: 3.1 [95% confidence interval: 1.0–9.2]; P = .04). CONCLUSION: In this population-based cohort of EPT infants, hyperglycemia on the first day of life was associated with increased mortality rates and brain damage, as reflected by WM reduction at term age.