Acute complications in adults diagnosed with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary level hospital

Abstract

Objective:To describe the characteristics of acute complications of diabetes in patients attending the emergency service of a third- level general hospital. Material and methods: Descriptive and prospective study in patients who attended the Emergency Service of the Arzobispo Loayza National Hospital (HNAL), Lima, between September 2019 and March 2020, with acute complications of diabetes mellitus. The demographic, clinical, laboratory and destination characteristics of the patient were recorded. Data were analyzed with the STATA 14 program. Results: 22 patients with some acute complications of DM were admitted to the emergency room. Fifteen patients had hyperglycemic crises and seven had hypoglycemia. Of the patients with hyperglycemic crises, 12 (80%) were ketoacidosis and 3 (20%) were hyperosmolar. 46,7% had newly diagnosed diabetes.The most frequent trigger was infections in 60%. 50% of patients with ketoacidosis had severe presentation.