Leuko-glycemic index as a predictor of acute intrahospital complications in adults with ischemic stroke in the Salvador Bienvenido Gautier Hospital in the Dominican Republic

Background:   Ischemic stroke is an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability worldwide. Hyperglycemia and leukocytosis are considered markers of poor prognosis, the index resulting from the combination of these variables could represent a valuable tool in the prognosis.

Objective:   To determine the leuko-glycemic index (LGI) as a predictor of complications in ischemic stroke for over 18-year-old patients in a hospital in the Dominican Republic.

Methods:   Data were collected through a digital form of 12 questions implemented in the KoboToolbox software. The sample consisted of 161 patients selected by non-probability sampling for convenience. Through the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and a Youden index of 0.35, an LGI cut-off point of 1,566 was obtained.

Results:   Among the cases, 97 evolved without complications, and 64 presented complications, highlighting aspiration pneumonia. The complicated cases presented a high LGI with an arithmetic mean of 2,328.39. The predominant age group was 66 to 75 years and the sex was male. Additionally, there was a high prevalence of smoking, coffee, and herbal tea consumption among the study population. Furthermore, systemic arterial hypertension stood out as a comorbidity. Most presented a mild alteration of the level of consciousness based on the first neurological evaluation made using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Multifocal ischemic lesions preponderated. The majority were discharged alive.

Conclusion:   The LGI stands as a valuable predictor, forecasting complications in individuals with ischemic stroke.

Keywords:
Glycemic index; complications; stroke; hospital; Dominican Republic