Risk Factors for Diabetic Ketoacidosis In Sohag University Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is considered one of the pathological developments resulting from diabetes mellitus (DM), which threatens the patient's life. In Egypt, many factors participated in DKA prevalence, which increases the need for further deep studies. Objectives: The current study aimed to measure and evaluate clinical profiles, the possible risk factors for DKA in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Patients and Methods: 60 patients diagnosed with DKA were recruited for six months between September 2018 and March 2019. The medical history and clinical investigations were applied to all participants. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: The participants had a mean age of 32.76±18.8 years, and 62 % were females. Most of the patients had a medical history of DM, and only 11.7% of them had a recent diagnosis. 55% of DKA patients had either respiratory tract or urinary tract infections (26.6% and 16,6%, respectively), where noncompliance for treatment was reported in 50% of cases. Lack of awareness about the DKA disease and its complication was reported in 45% of patients. Other comorbidities such as stroke (6.7%), myocardial infarction (MI) (8.3%), and acute pancreatitis (3.3%) were reported, as well. Conclusion: Many of the DKA patients from Sohag University Hospital, Sohag, Egypt, lack awareness about the disease and its risk factors. The major risk factors for DKA were either infection or less commitment to the medical regimens. More efforts should be paid to accommodate the health education weakness of diabetes and DKA risk factors.

Keywords

• diabetic ketoacidosis; risk factors; medical education