Frequency and severity of ketoacidosis at diagnosis among childhood type 1 diabetes in Khartoum state, Sudan

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life threatening acute complication of Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of pediatric DKA at diagnosis of new-onset T1DM in Khartoum during 2000–2017 period. METHODS: The study was retrospective and involved review of medical files of children (<15 years) with T1DM in the city hospitals and diabetes centers. RESULTS: The overall frequency of DKA among T1DM children at onset of disease diagnosis was 17.6% (173/982). The episodes of DKA increased from 26% in first 6- year period (2000–2005) to 46.3% in the last 6-year period (2011–2012; p<0.001). No significant difference in the frequency of DKA was observed according to gender (p=0.9) and age (p=0.24). Compared to other age groups, the severity of DKA (pH<7.1) was higher in pre-school children (p<0.01). Approximately, 5% of patients were complicated with cerebral edema with a mortality rate of 1.7%. CONCLUSION: The DKA frequency at diagnosis of childhood T1DM in Khartoum was lower than previous reports. In addition, the severity of DKA was high among pre-school age children with a relatively high mortality rate when compared to the global rate.