Hyperglycaemia with acute non-invasive ventilation

It is well recognised that hyperglycaemia is associated with poor outcome in the intensive care unit, although it is not known whether hyperglycaemia affects outcome in patients treated with non-invasive ventilation for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. In this issue, Chakrabarti and colleagues report a study evaluating the affect of hyperglycaemia on outcome and show that random blood glucose ⩾7 mmol/l, baseline respiratory rate and admission APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score predicted outcome. Baseline respiratory rate and hyperglycaemia were similar in predicting outcomes to the APACHE II score and combinations of these variables improved predictive accuracy. In the accompanying editorial, Baker and Bell point …