Overview Of Reasons For Admission To The Emergency Department Of A Tertiary Hospital Of Patients With Diabetes Mellitus During The Years 2009-2017

Introduction / Purpose: It is well known that diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition with increasing prevalence. In Greece, the percentage of diabetic patients is 8.7%, while the percentage of pre-diabetics is estimated at 6.4%. The present study aims to register the reasons why patients with DM visited the emergency department of General Hospital of Piraeus "Tzaneio" the years 2009-2017.Material and Method: The archives of the years 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 of the emergency department (ED) of the First Department of Internal Medicine were used for the register. Overall, data from 957 patients (452 males/505 females - mean age +/- standard deviation: 70.1 +/- 14.6 years) were recorded. The medication for diabetes, the reason for visiting (hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis) and the outcome (admission or not) were recorded as well.Results: The total number of diabetic patients that visited the ED was for the year 2009 302 patients, for 2011 221 patients, for 2013 140 patients, for 215 126 patients and for 2017 168 patients. The rate of diabetics that visited the ED because of hypoglycemia was for 2009 14.1%, for 2011 7.2%, for 2013 5%, for 2015 4.8% and for 2017 10.1%. The rate of sulpholynurea-induced hypoglycemic episodes was for 2009 24.1%, for 2011 25.3%, for 2013 16.9%, for 2015 29.2% and for 2017 20.8%. As for diabetic ketoacidosis, it accounts for 4.4% in 2009, 4.5% in 2011, 10% in 2013, 1.6% in 2015 and 1.2% in 2017 of the ED visits. Finally, the percentage of admissions in the First Department of Internal Medicine for patients with DM, independently of reason for visiting, was 3.61% in 2009, 4.49% in 2011, 6.9% in 2013, 3.5% in 2015 and 5.15% in 2017.Conclusions: The total number of diabetic patients that visited the ED was for the year 2009 302 patients, for 2011 221 patients, for 2013 140 patients, for 215 126 patients and for 2017 168 patients. The rate of diabetics that visited the ED because of hypoglycemia was for 2009 14.1%, for 2011 7.2%, for 2013 5%, for 2015 4.8% and for 2017 10.1%. The rate of sulpholynurea-induced hypoglycemic episodes was for 2009 24.1%, for 2011 25.3%, for 2013 16.9%, for 2015 29.2% and for 2017 20.8%. As for diabetic ketoacidosis, it accounts for 4.4% in 2009, 4.5% in 2011, 10% in 2013, 1.6% in 2015 and 1.2% in 2017 of the ED visits. Finally, the percentage of admissions in the First Department of Internal Medicine for patients with DM, independently of reason for visiting, was 3.61% in 2009, 4.49% in 2011, 6.9% in 2013, 3.5% in 2015 and 5.15% in 2017.