Author(s): Luis Enrique Nunez Moscoso
Objective: To study the diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) episodes which occurred in the type 2 diabetic adults at the emergency department in CASE Hospital EsSalud Arequipa.
Study Design: We reviewed retrospectively the charts of patients who were admitted to the division of Emergency from Jan. 2018 to Dec. 2019 due to DKA.
Results: Total 72 adult patients with 74 episodes (12 females and 60 males) of DKA were evaluated. The mean was 45, 80 years. One patient suffered repetitive episodes of DKA. 17 episodes (22.9%) occurred in patients without a history of DM. Infection was the most important precipitating factor in type 2 diabetic patients, with respiratory tract and urinary tract accounting for the two most common foci. Two patients expired, giving the mortality rate of 2, 8%. Only old age contributed to fatality in type 2 diabetic patients. Type 2 diabetic patients had lower value of serum potassium and the occurrence of hyperkalaemia was less than expected.
Conclusion: Owing to high percentage of adult DKA episodes occurred in type 2 DM, more attention should be pay to these patients.
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