Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 N13

ICEECE2012 Nurses Abstracts (1) (28 abstracts)

Socio-demographic factors associated with pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis admissions in Southern West Virginia

Kevin R Lewis 1 , Sachin V Bendre 1 , Crystal Clark 2 & Debbie Wiley 3


1Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Charleston, West Virginia, USA; 2School of Nursing, Mountain State University, Beckley, West Virginia, USA; 3Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, West Virginia, USA.


Background: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a well known complication in children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) with a mortality rate estimated at 2%. Sparse data is available from the literature describing socio-demographic factors associated with DKA admissions in children. A previous study identified that children of non-Caucasian race and Medicaid, with T1DM, had increased incidence of DKA admissions.

Aims: To identify the socio-demographic factors associated with DKA admissions including type of insurance coverage, income by county, race, gender and HbA1c in West Virginia, a rural part of Appalachia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with known type 1 diabetes ages 1 to 18 years admitted to the Pediatric ICU with DKA in Charleston WV from January 2007 to December 2010 in comparison to our general type 1 diabetes population. The data collection tool included multiple socio-demographic factors and HbA1c.

Results: We reviewed a total of 167 patients with an admitting diagnosis of DKA; 63 charts were excluded because they did not meet either DKA criteria, age criteria, had new onset diabetes or lived outside of WV. 57% were female, 43% male. Average age was 13.6 years (SD±2.81) 56% were covered by Medicaid or Chips insurance and 44% by commercial payers. 11.5% were African American and 88.5% were Caucasian. The average HbA1c was 10.85%. (SD±2.364).

Conclusions: Salient findings include higher HbA1c, higher rates in African American patients and in those covered by Medicaid.

Clinical implications: This study identifies socio-demographic factors associated with children admitted for DKA in WV. Patients identified at higher risk for DKA include those with elevated HbA1c, African American race and those covered by Medicaid/CHIPS. Findings can be utilized to identify patients at higher risks for DKA and implementation of prevention strategies.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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