Table 2 List of applied quality indicators

Adequate daily blood glucose control

Represented as median hours spent each day within the target range per patient

1 article [21]

Correlation between within-run mean BGL and within-run mean coefficient of variance for hourly insulin rate

To illustrate whether hyperglycaemia after attaining target is correlated with variability in infusion rate

1 article [9]

Correlation between within-run mean BGL and within-run mean hourly insulin rate

To illustrate whether the protocol performed equally well independent of insulin resistance

1 article [9]

Distribution of the individual patient BGL mean in a predefined time interval

Represented in box plot

1 article [11]

Number of patients with well and poor BGL control

Represented as percentage of patients and defined as:

• well controlled patient: <130^a BGL for more than half of the measured time; or

• poor controlled patient: <130 BGL for less than or equal to half of the measured time.

1 article [31]

Odds ratio of achieving certain BGL

Per additional Intensive Care day and some drugs

1 article [50]

Number of patients having defined mean BGL

Represented as percentage of patients with mean BGL ≥ 200 for each day after surgery

1 article [22]

Probability density function for BGL measurements

Represented as a curve for comparison with other protocols

1 article [35]

Proportion of patient-day with mean BGL<200 and ≥ 200 and IIT at least in part of the day

1 article [22]

Number of report on necessary departure from protocol, clinical intervention or adverse events

1 article [35]

Time from admission to first BGL

Represented as mean of time [15]

1 articles [15]

Variability after achieving target

Represented as within-run mean (IIT episode) ± standard deviation and mean of within-run coefficient variance ± standard deviation (%)

1 article [9]