Analysis of predictors of fever after aortic valve replacement: Diabetic patients are less likely to develop fever after aortic valve replacement, a single-centre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND Postoperative temperature dysregulation affects the length of hospital stay and prognosis. This study evaluated the factors that influence the occurrence of fever in patients after aortic valve replacement surgery. METHODS Eighty-seven consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement surgery were included. Patients' age, sex and body mass index; presence of diabetes mellitus; operation time; blood loss; blood transfusion volume; preoperative and postoperative laboratory findings; presence or absence of oral function management; and fever >38°C were retrospectively analysed through univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Among the variables, only diabetes mellitus status was significantly associated with fever ⩾38°C. Postoperatively, patients with diabetes mellitus were significantly less likely to develop fever above 38°C and a fever rising to 38°C. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the presence of comorbid diabetes mellitus decreases the frequency of developing fever >38°C after aortic valve replacement surgery.