Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis at the Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital

Objectives: The aims of this study were assessing the frequency of clinical characteristics of patients with severe Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and investigating the relationship between paraclinical (glucose, anion gap, and serum bicarbonate) and clinical parameters in patients with severe DKA.

Method: A retrospective chart review of all adult patients with DKA who were admitted to the ICU at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between January 2012 and December 2013. The data collected include the demographic data, clinical presentation, precipitating factors, duration of hospital stay and mortality rate. The data were analyzed using STAT software.

Results: A total of 60 patients were included. Of these, 50 were men (83.3%). The median age was 23 years (ranging 18-29 years). Newly diagnosed diabetics accounted for 15 (25%) of the cases; the remainder were previously known patients of type1 diabetes on treatment. The main precipitating factors of DKA were insulin treatment cessation (87.5%) and infection/sepsis (39.6%). Serum blood glucose, serum bicarbonate level, and the calculated anion gap did not significantly correlate with clinical parameters of severe DKA.

Conclusion: Most patients with severe DKA who were admitted to the ICU of our institution presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. Non-compliance to insulin therapy was the main precipitating factor of DKA.