Download Press Release 29 May 2007 RESEARCH INVESTIGATES LINK

Press Release
29 May 2007
RESEARCH INVESTIGATES LINK BETWEEN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS AND
REDUCTION IN CHILD DEATHS IN ICUs
New research funded by the National Institute for Health Research’s Health
Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme will investigate whether controlling
the blood sugar levels of children in intensive care helps reduce deaths and serious
complications. The £1.4million clinical trial, one of the largest of its kind, follows a
study of adults in intensive care units (ICUs), which found that there were 43%1 fewer
deaths and similar reductions in serious complications in adults receiving treatment
to control their blood sugar levels. However it is unknown whether this form of blood
sugar management will help children.
“Previous research findings raise pressing questions about the control of blood sugar
levels in children who are receiving intensive care,” says lead researcher Dr Duncan
Macrae of the Royal Brompton Hospital. “It has been observed that blood sugar
levels rise in adult patients, but babies and children are not small adults and it cannot
be assumed that the benefits seen in adults will occur.”
In the trial, Dr Macrae and his collaborators from the Paediatric Intensive Care
Society Study Group will compare conventional versus strict control of blood sugar,
using insulin. The trial will involve 1,500 babies and children up to 16 years of age,
across 10 regional paediatric ICUs around the UK. A cost-effectiveness analysis will
also be undertaken.
This research project has been commissioned as part of the HTA programme’s work
to support the Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN), set up to target the
development of safe and effective medicines for the treatment of youngsters aged
newborn to 18.
For more information about this project visit www.hta.ac.uk/project/1533.asp. For
more information about the medicines for children initiative visit
http://www.hta.ac.uk/news/newsitem05082501.htm
Ends
Notes to Editor:
1. Conventional management of blood sugar levels in intensive care is to lower
glucose levels with an intravenous infusion of insulin only if the glucose level
exceeds approximately 12 mmol/l
2. 1 Van den Berghe G, Wouters P, Weekers P Intensive Insulin Therapy in
Critically Ill Patients., NEJM 345:1359-1367
3. The HTA programme is a programme of the National Institute for Health
Research (NIHR) and produces high quality research information about the
effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who
use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest of the NIHR
programmes, with more than 360 projects published since its inception in
1993. About 50 are published each year, all available for download free of
charge from the website. It is coordinated by the National Coordinating Centre
for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA), based at the University of
Southampton. Visit www.hta.ac.uk for more information.
Further information:
Ruth Allen, Communications Manager, NCCHTA, Tel. 02380 595584, email
[email protected]
Naomi Stockley, Assistant Communications Manager, NCCHTA Tel. 02380 595646,
email [email protected]