Analysis of diabetic patients admitted to Tikur Anbessa Hospital over eight years period

Abstract

Abstract: A retrospective analysis of all diabetic admissions to the adult medical wards of Tikur Anbessa Hospital (TAH) over a period of eight years from 1987 to 1994 was done. There were a total of 7739 medical admissions. Out of these, there were 736(9.5%) diabetic admissions. The records of 553 (75.1%) diabetic admissions were retrieved and analyzed. There were 453 patients with 553 episodes of admissions. Of these, 381 patients were admitted once, 55 patients twice, and 17 patients three or more times. The mean age was 42.3±17.7 years and there were 323 males (58.4%) and 230 females (41.6%). Two hundred eighty three (51.2%) were Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and 270 (48.8%) were Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) patients. The median duration of hospital stay was 18 days. There was no difference in hospital stay between IDDM and NIDDM patients (p>0.05). The overall mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 7.9±7.1 years. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was significantly lower in IDDM as compared to NIDDM patients (5.7±5.2 years versus 10.2±7.2 years;X2=54.7;p<0.001). The causes of admissions were infection (26.9%), poor metabolic control (19.3%), acute complications of diabetes (19.3%), and chronic complications of diabetes and its sequelae (17.5%). The overall mortality rate was 15.9%. The causes of death were infection in 30.7%, diabetic ketoacidosis in 18.2%, renal failure in 15.9%, stroke in 12.5%, liver disease in 10.2%, and myocardial infraction in 3.4%. It is noted that significant percentages of admissions and deaths were preventable. We recommend the implementation of the national diabetes program, intensification of diabetes education, tight metabolic control, and adequate provision and procurement of drug supply in order to prevent and reduce the mortality and morbidity of diabetic patients. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(1):9-13]