Introduction: High glycemic variability is commonly observed in intensive care patients, both in pediatrics and adults. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between gestational age and glycemic variability in cohort of very low birth infants.Patients and methods: A prospective, single-center, open cohort study enrolled 74 very low birth weight infants with a mean birth weight of 1066 g. Continuous glucose monitoring system (Guardian Real-Time CGM®, Medtronic, Northridge, CA, USA) was used to measure glucose levels. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated for glycemic variability indices and gestational age. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the adjusted effect of multiple glycemic variability variables.Results: The correlations between all calculated glycemic variability indices and gestational age were negative. In multiple regression analysis, all glycemic variability indices negatively correlated with gestational age and positively correlated with mean interstitial fluid glucose concentration.Conclusions: Glycemic variability in very low birth weight infants correlates with gestational age and mean glucose concentrations.
Keywords: Continuous glucose monitor; glycemic variability; very low birth weight infant.