Indications and Outcome of Admission of Diabetic Patients into The Medical Wards in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background/Objective: Diabetes constitutes one of the common indications for admissions into the medical wards of many hospitals. This study aimed at evaluating the indications for medical admissions due to diabetes mellitus and the outcomes in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,

Patients and Method: A retrospective study of medical admissions of diabetic patients from April 2005 to March 2007, was conducted.

Results: The total number of medical admissions for the period was 2,043 patients, 274 (13.4%) of whom were diabetic patients. Of the 274 diabetic patients, 144 were males and 130 were females. Their ages ranged from 20 to 90 years (mean 55.4 ± 15.4 years). The indications for admission were chronic diabetic complications involving different body systems (of which renal system involvement was the commonest), poorly controlled diabetes, acute emergencies and foot ulcers. Outcome was good in the majority while a case fatality rate of 23.7% was recorded.

Conclusion: Chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, mostly involving the renal system constituted the commonest indication for admission of  patients into the medical wards of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. It is important that factors responsible for the development of these complications be identified and tackled in order to reduce this burden.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, admissions, Nigeria.