Early Hyperglycemia Linked to Increased Complications in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

A recent study has found that hyperglycemia in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants is linked to increased risks of serious complications, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).

The retrospective study analyzed 255 VLBW infants grouped based on glucose levels, with hyperglycemia defined as blood glucose >150 mg/dL and normoglycemia as >47 mg/dl, ≤ 150 mg/dL. Researchers also examined the impact of hyperglycemia duration (≤72 vs. >72 hours) and severity (150–220 vs. ≥220 mg/dL).

Findings revealed that 44.7% of infants developed hyperglycemia. Compared to normoglycemic infants, those with hyperglycemia had significantly higher rates of ROP, IVH, and mortality. After adjusting for confounders, hyperglycemia remained independently associated with ROP and IVH but not mortality. Significantly, prolonged hyperglycemia (>72 hours) further increased ROP risk, while severe hyperglycemia (≥220 mg/dL) heightened IVH risk.

The study underscores the importance of close glucose monitoring in VLBW infants, suggesting that timely interventions to control hyperglycemia may help lower the risk of life-altering neonatal complications.

Reference:

Zhu J, He X, Guo M. Association of early hyperglycemia with morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants. BMC pediatrics. 2025 Aug 29;25:667.

https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-025-06035-3