Glycated Hemoglobin as a Predictor of the Length of Hospital Stay in Patients Following Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery in the Saudi Population

Abstract Objective: The diabetic population has a high prevalence of coronary artery disease, and frequently patients with diabetes undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in diabetics is shown to be associated with morbidity and mortality, but the association of HbA1c with postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) has conflicting results. In this study, we aim to identify if elevated HbA1c levels are associated with prolonged LOS after CABG surgery. Methods: A retrospective chart review study was performed, using a total of 305 patients who were referred for CABG surgery. HbA1c levels were measured before the day of surgery. Patients were classified into two groups according to HbA1c levels: <7% and ≥7%. A LOS of more than 14 days was proposed as an extended LOS. HbA1c and the LOS relationship were assessed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: Patients who had diabetes mellitus comprised 81.6% of our studied population. Sixty-four percent had HbA1c levels ≥ 7%. There was no significant difference in the total LOS in HbA1c <7% compared to HbA1c ≥7% patients (P=0.367). Conclusion: Our study results rejected the proposed hypothesis that elevated HbA1c levels ≥7% would be associated with prolonged hospital stay following CABG surgery in a Saudi population.

研究目的：糖尿病患者冠状动脉疾病患病率较高，且诸多糖尿病患者需接受冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）。既往研究证实，糖尿病患者糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）水平升高与发病及死亡风险相关，但关于HbA1c与术后住院时长（LOS）的关联，现有研究结论尚存争议。本研究旨在明确：接受CABG手术的患者中，HbA1c水平升高是否与术后住院时长延长存在关联。
研究方法：本研究为回顾性病历研究，共纳入305例拟接受CABG手术的患者。于手术前一日检测患者HbA1c水平，依据HbA1c水平将患者分为两组：<7%组与≥7%组。将住院时长超过14天定义为延长住院时长。采用合适的统计学方法分析HbA1c水平与住院时长的关联。
研究结果：本研究纳入人群中，糖尿病患者占比81.6%，其中64%的患者HbA1c水平≥7%。HbA1c<7%组与HbA1c≥7%组患者的总住院时长无显著统计学差异（P=0.367）。
研究结论：本研究结果不支持此前提出的假说，即沙特人群中HbA1c水平≥7%与CABG术后住院时长延长存在关联。