Hypoglycemia: Comparison of Health Status Outcomes Between Patients After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Background: Patients who have undergone hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) often face lengthy hospital stays. Hospitalized patients’ compromised health status puts them at risk for complications to recovery when glucose is not controlled.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate differences in outcomes in patients who experienced hypoglycemia compared to patients who did not experience hypoglycemia post–allogeneic HCT.

Methods: A retrospective chart review and secondary data analysis were conducted. The sample consisted of 198 adult patients hospitalized for their first allogeneic HCT at the University of Minnesota Medical Center between August 2015 and December 2017. Hypoglycemic patients were compared with nonhypoglycemic patients until discharge or 100 hospitalization days post-transplantation.

Findings: A total of 20 patients (10%) experienced hypoglycemic events during the study time frame. There were significant differences between the two groups. Hypoglycemia may be a marker for higher acuity illness in this population. Nurses should increase vigilance in managing the blood glucose levels of patients undergoing HCT with known comorbidities and complications.