Background: Patients with diabetes have a 3-fold greater chance
of hospitalization compared to those without diabetes. The risk
factors for hospitalizations in diabetic patients constitute poor
glycemic control, longer diabetes duration, and coexisting
morbidity. Other factors include, old age groups, insulin use,
hypoglycemia, presence of chronic renal insufficiency and
diabetes-related hospitalizations in the preceding year are other
important risk factors. Aim: Our aim of the study is to report the
causes, patient characteristics, and outcome of admissions of
diabetic patients to the wards and emergency unit of Benha
university hospital Methods: The study included 260 patients
with known history of type 1 or 2 DM who were admitted from
the emergency department, outpatient clinic ,and other
departments of the hospital.Demographic data and laboratory
investigations were collected. Results: The study constituted
mainly type 2DM (90.4%). The mean age of the study population was 57± 14 years, most of
them were females (55.8%).The median duration of diabetes was 10 years.The most
common reason for diabetes related hospitalizations were chronic complications of DM,
whereas sepsis is the most common reason of non diabetes related .The mortality rate was
26.9%, of overall deaths, cardiovascular disease was the most frequent(
47.7%).Conclusion: The most frequent reason for hospitalization in diabetic related
admissions was chronic complications of diabetes. Whereas, sepsis is the most common
cause in diabetic non related admissions.Cardiovascular disease is still the main cause of
death among diabetics.