Hyperglycemia is common among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and is associated with high risk of mortality and morbidity. However, the relationship between admission plasma glucose (APG) levels and mortality in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with AMI needs further investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between APG level and short-term mortality and morbidity after AMI. Materials And Methods : This is a prospective study of 79 consecutive patients with AMI followed up for 90 days. Medical history, as well as demographic and clinical baseline characteristics, of the patients was obtained from Al-Watni Governmental Hospital medical records. The patients were divided into four groups based on APG levels. Patients\' health status was followed up by phone call interviews with the patients and their families. Follow-up data were further confirmed using patients\' medical records at the hospital. The phone interviews investigated all causes of death or congestive heart failure (CHF) or re-infarction. Results : The mean age of patients was 61.9 ± 12.3 years. At the time of hospital admission, the median PG level was 162 mg/dl. During the 3-month follow-up, overall mortality was 20.3% and was increased to 56.3% in patients with glucose levels >200 mg/dl. Mortality was comparable (21.9% vs. 19.1%; P > 0.05) between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Nonfatal adverse outcomes in the form of combined CHF and re-infarction were highest in group IV and lowest in group I. Conclusion :Our study demonstrates that high APG level is common in patients with AMI and is associated with high risk of mortality and morbidity among patients with or without diabetes mellitus. In fact, our study showed that nondiabetic patients with high APG have higher risk of mortality than patients with a known history of diabetes mellitus.

Int J Diab Dev Ctries 2006;26:116-21