Diabetic Ketoacidosis at the Onset of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Among Children and Adolescents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Study From the Emergency Department

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. We aim to assess the frequency, clinical characteristics, biochemical findings, and outcomes of DKA at the onset of T1DM in young children and adolescents. Design and methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the medical records of patients ≤ 16 years old seen in the emergency department at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between April 2015 and June 2019. The severity of DKA was classified according to the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) criteria. Results: Out of 207 patients with T1DM, 53 presented with DKA as a new onset. The mean age was 8.51 ± 3.81 years, with the majority being 5-10 years old (52.8%). Polyuria (98.1%), polydipsia (86.8%), weight loss (62.3%), and abdominal pain and vomiting (45.3%) were the most frequent symptoms. Mean random blood glucose was 424.09 ± 108.67 mg/dL and mean venous pH was 7.15 ± 0.36 mmol/L. Of patients, 66% had no associated complications, 24.4% had hypokalemia, 20.8% developed hypoglycemia, and 18.9% developed hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. One patient had cerebral edema and coma. Based on metabolic acidosis, 24.5% had mild DKA, an equal percentage had severe DKA, and 9.4% had moderate DKA. Of patients, 88.7% were admitted to the pediatric ward and 15.1% to the intensive care unit. Conclusion: A total of 25% of patients diagnosed with T1DM below the age of 17 years presented with DKA. No permanent disabilities or deaths were reported. Forming a registry dedicated to T1DM is needed to follow up on these patients, especially among school-age children, as well as aid in the development of future research locally.