Also in this section

• Managing Return-to-play Decisions Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury - mTBI
• Normoglycaemia in Intensive Care Evaluation and Survival Using Glucose Algorithm Regulation - NICE-SUGAR
• Retrospective Analysis of Trauma Transfers - RATTS
• Saline vs. Albumin Fluid Evaluation Study - SAFE
• Saline vs. Albumin Fluid Evaluation Translation of Research Into Practice Study - SAFE TRIPS

Normoglycaemia in Intensive Care Evaluation and Survival Using Glucose Algorithm Regulation - NICE-SUGAR

Background

Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) is a common finding in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), whether or not the patient has a history of diabetes mellitus. The presence of hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients has been linked to adverse effects including multiple organ failure and death, but whether better control of blood glucose can result in more patients recovering from critical illness is currently unclear.

Aim

The primary aim of the NICE-SUGAR study is to compare the effects of two blood glucose targets on all-cause mortality in intensive care patients who are predicted on admission to the ICU to stay in the ICU for at least 48 hours.

Design

The NICE-SUGAR study is a multi-centre, international, open label, randomised controlled trial of blood glucose management comparing two blood glucose targets. The study is a collaboration of The George Institute For International Health, The ANZICS Clinical Trials Group, The Canadian Critical Care Trials Group and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

Methods

In this study, 6100 patients will be recruited in over 35 Intensive Care Units throughout Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. The treatment groups are assigned one of two targets for blood glucose, either the lower range target of 4.5 - 6.0 mmol/L (81-108 mg/dl) or the higher range target of 8.0 - 10.0 mmol/L (144 - 180 mg/dl).

Status/Results

Recruitment commenced in April 2005 and was completed in August 2008.

Publications

The NICE-SUGAR Study Investigators. The Normoglycaemia in Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) and Survival Using Glucose Algorithm Regulation (SUGAR) Study: Development, design and conduct of an international, multi-center, open label, randomized controlled trial of two target ranges for glycemic control in intensive care unit patients. Am J Resp Crit Care Med online supplement 2005.

Institute Investigators

• Simon Finfer
• John Myburgh
• Robyn Norton
• Stephen McMahon
• Laurent Billot
• Stephane Heritier
• Steven Su

Project Managers

• Deborah Blair (Australia and New Zealand)
• Denise Foster (North America)

Clinical Research Associate

• Lorraine Little

Clinical Trials Assistant

• Ravi Shukla

Collaboration

• Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group (ANZICS-CTG)
• Canadian Critical Care Trials Group (CCCTG)
• Mayo Clinic

Funding Agencies

• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
• New Zealand Health Research Council (HRC)
• Canadian Institute of Health Research