Mortality of Patients with Diabetic Acidosis in a Large City Hospital

Fatal Diabetic Ketosis

“…We feel, therefore, that the mortality rate in this series is comparable with that of other large general hospitals in this country. Recent reports from elsewhere support this; thus Skillman et al (1958) had 25 deaths in 172 episodes, and Greenaway and Read (1958) 11 deaths in 69. It is also of interest that in a series from this hospital collected in 1946-8 (Black andMalins, 1949) the mortality rate was no higher, in spite of the fact that at this time the importance of potassium depletion was not appreciated and the only fluid administered intravenously was isotonic saline.…”

“…However, mortality rates of about 15 % reported from Melbourne (Greenaway and Read, 1958) and Cincinnati (Skillman et al, 1958) do not support this. The absence of a published series from hospitals in this country in recent years has prompted the present study, in which 19 fatal cases are described.…”

Profiles of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Multiethnic Diabetic Population of Malaysia

“…Mortality rate for DKA was 90 % before the discovery of insulin and after the successful intervention in management of T1DM, it was significantly reduced to 14.5 % by the mid of 20th century [2]. Among developed nations, the mortality rate in Denmark was reported to be 4 % in 2007 [4].…”

“…After successful incorporation of insulin in DM management, and with exclusive studies carried out to improve understanding of DKA, incidence and mortality rates of DKA kept decreasing [2]. The incidence was once reported to be as low as 4.6 -8.0 DKA episodes per 1000 diabetic admissions with a mortality rate of 5 % [3].…”

Fatal Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Major Causes and Approaches to Their Prevention

“…It should be stressed that infection leads to death in only 2 per cent of patients treated for diabetic ketoacidosis, and consequently it is no longer rational to provide indiscriminate broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage for all patients. 16 On the other hand, in every instance it is imperative that a thorough search for a site of infection should be carried out and appropriate therapy be promptly instituted if infection is suspected.…”