Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Experience at BIRDEM, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Authors

  • Muhammad Abdur Rahim Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka
  • Rozana Rouf Senior Medical Officer, Department of Endocrinology, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka
  • Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Specialist, Department of Neurology, Square Hospitals Ltd, Dhaka
  • Palash Mitra Assistant Registrar, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka
  • Shahana Zaman Registrar, Department of Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital, Dhaka
  • Khwaja Nazim Uddin Professor of Medicine, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka
  • Zafar Ahmed Latif Professor of Endocrinology and Director, BIRDEM Academy, Dhaka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v3i2.25110

Keywords:

clinical characteristics, diabetic ketoacidosis, precipitating causes, presentations, outcome

Abstract

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a medical emergency. It may be the presenting feature of diabetes mellitus, but more commonly DKA complicates diabetic patients during inter-current acute illness or if they become non-compliant to anti-diabetic medications. Early detection and treatment of DKA including underlying cause is important in determining outcome.

Objectives: To describe the demographic characteristics, presentations, precipitating factors and outcome of DKA.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at BIRDEM General Hospital from January 2008 to December 2011.

Results: Total patients were 200 with female predominance (56%). Mean age of the study population was 37.6 years. Incidence of DKA was more in known diabetic patients (71%) than in new cases (29%), more among rural population (53%) and low income group (76.5%). Common presentations included nausea (63%), vomiting (61%), polyuria (43%), polydypsia (42.5%), fever (29%), abdominal pain (28%), shortness of breath (28%), drowsiness (20%), blurred vision (13%), leg cramps (6.5%) and coma (7%). Infection (45.5%) was the commonest precipitating cause of DKA followed by non-adherence to insulin therapy (31%). Acute pancreatitis (5%), myocardial infarction (2%), stroke (1%) and surgery (1.5%) were less common precipitating factors. Aetiology of DKA could not be identified in 14% cases. Mean random blood glucose during admission was 27.1mmol/L and mean HbA1c was 11.3%. Severe acidosis (pH<7) was less common (8.5%). Neutrophil leukocytosis was present in 87% cases, irrespective of infection. In-hospital mortality was 6.5%.

Conclusion: DKA occurred in diabetic patients in over two-third of the cases. In over two-third of the study population, DKA was precipitated by infection and non-adherence to insulin treatment. So, patient education regarding treatment compliance and sick days management are important and may prevent many cases of DKA

Bangladesh Crit Care J September 2015; 3 (2): 53-56

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Author Biography

Muhammad Abdur Rahim, Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka



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Published

2015-09-22

How to Cite

Rahim, M. A., Rouf, R., Ahmed, A. U., Mitra, P., Zaman, S., Uddin, K. N., & Latif, Z. A. (2015). Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Experience at BIRDEM, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Critical Care Journal, 3(2), 53–56. https://doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v3i2.25110

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Brief Comminications

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