Introduction:

Hyperglycemia can increase perioperative morbidity and mortality. Therefore, its timely recognition favors a better surgical result. Patients with hyperglycemia are more likely to be hospitalized than those without diabetes, as many of these patients are not diagnosed prior to hospitalization.

Objective:

To determine the incidence of preoperative hyperglycemia in patients who do not have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Material and methods:

Patients with ASA 1 and 2, age ˃ 18 years, elective surgery were included. An observational, prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out. Preoperative capillary glycemia was recorded. Data collection is expressed in averages and percentages.

Results:

509 patients with ASA 1 and 2 of which 116 patients (22.7%) were excluded. Patients included 393 (n = 393). 106 patients with preoperative hyperglycemia (27%) were identified and eight patients (7.54%) with glycemia ≥ 126 mg/dL were found, mean hyperglycemia was 94 mg/dL ± 14.2. Is subdivided hyperglycemic patients by age group, and the incidence of hyperglycemia increases with age.

Conclusions:

In this study, hyperglycemia was present in 17.7% of patients of 18-40 years and up to 62% in patients more than 80 years without DM. The determination of glucose must be considered as an efficient preoperative test.