Background: Hospitalization occurs more often in diabetic than non-diabetic patients
and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Data on these issues are
limited in the Middle East, particularly in new nations suffering from a high prevalence
of diabetes. Objectives: We studied the contribution of diabetes to the hospital admission
rates and evaluated the database- documented causes and outcomes of hospitalization
of people with diabetes in a tertiary hospital. Methods and Patients: This was a descriptive,
retrospective, electronic records-based study. We identified 14,032 episodes accounted
for by diabetes (i.e. 19.1% of the total 51,169 episodes) between 2000-06. Results:
19.1% of admission episodes involved diabetes with an ascending linear trend. The
median length of stay was five and four days for diabetes as a primary diagnosis and
as a secondary diagnosis respectively. Diabetes as a primary diagnosis was noted in
1,227 patients. The mean age was 42.5 years, and majority were in the 50-70 years
age group. Most patients were admitted from the emergency room (71%). Reason for admission
was attributed to diabetes per se in >50%, and the majority were discharged home in
good condition. On the other hand, diabetes was present as a secondary diagnosis in
8,540 patients (3,494 women and 2,794 Emirati nationals). The mean age of this subgroup
was 58.4 years with majority being 41-80 years old. These patients were admitted either
as a medical emergency (70%) or directly from home (27%). Patients were admitted under
internal medicine (36%), cardiology (27%) and haematology (21%) services. The majority
(91%) were discharged home in good condition. A total of 353 patients died while hospitalized
(23 with diabetes as a primary diagnosis and 330 when it was a secondary diagnosis
respectively. The age at death was 68.8 and 65.4 years in the two subgroups respectively.
Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that diabetes is associated with a high
number of inpatient episodes. These involved mainly middle-aged adults due to medical
and cardiovascular complications of diabetes, and poses a high burden on both health
care and the economy.
Key-words:
Diabetes Mellitus - Middle East - Acute Diabetic Complications - Morbidity - Mortality
- Hospitalization - Inpatient Diabetes Care
