María Sanz-Almazán1, Teresa Montero-Carretero2, Susana Sánchez-Ramón3, M Teresa Jorge-Bravo4, Cristina Crespo-Soto5. 1. Servicio de Urgencias Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. Centro de Salud Arturo Eyries (Valladolid Oeste), Valladolid, España. 2. Servicio de Urgencias Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. Centro de Salud Plaza del Ejército (Valladolid Oeste), Valladolid, España. 3. Servicio de Urgencias Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. 4. Centro de Salud Arturo Eyries (Valladolid Oeste), Valladolid, España. 5. Servicio de Endocrinología Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of acute diabetic complications attended in a hospital emergency department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective study of patients with hyper- and hypoglycemic emergencies attended in a tertiary-care university hospital emergency department. RESULTS: We included 237 patients with a mean (SD) age of 61 (26) years. Diabetes had been diagnosed previously in 86.5% (type 2 in 74% and type 1 in 26%). Hyperglycemic emergencies were treated in 72%. The most frequent reasons for decompensation were poor control of type 1 diabetes (41.2%) and infections in type 2 diabetes (51.5%). Twenty-eight percent had low blood sugar levels caused by poor control of disease (50%). Patients with hypoglycemia had shorter mean stays. More admissions were made in type 2 diabetes than in type 1. CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetes leads to more visits to the emergency department, more admissions, and a longer hospital stay than type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of acute diabetic complications attended in a hospital emergency department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective study of patients with hyper- and hypoglycemic emergencies attended in a tertiary-care university hospital emergency department. RESULTS: We included 237 patients with a mean (SD) age of 61 (26) years. Diabetes had been diagnosed previously in 86.5% (type 2 in 74% and type 1 in 26%). Hyperglycemic emergencies were treated in 72%. The most frequent reasons for decompensation were poor control of type 1 diabetes (41.2%) and infections in type 2 diabetes (51.5%). Twenty-eight percent had low blood sugar levels caused by poor control of disease (50%). Patients with hypoglycemia had shorter mean stays. More admissions were made in type 2 diabetes than in type 1. CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetes leads to more visits to the emergency department, more admissions, and a longer hospital stay than type 1 diabetes.