Abstract

BRAVO MORALES, Macarena et al. Estimation of Hidden Diabetes Mellitus in a Hospital Emergency Department. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2009, vol.2, n.6, pp.269-274. ISSN 2386-8201.

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of hidden diabetes in patients presenting with hyperglycaemia at a hospital emergency department. Study design. Cross-sectional descriptive study (prevalence) studio. Setting. Hospital emergency department. Participants. Patients over 20 years who attended the Emergency Department of the Hospital General de Ciudad Real during 2007 with plasma glucose levels over 140 mg/dl. The total number of patients with glucose levels higher than 140 mg/dl was 4,559. Main measurements. Socio-demographic variables and cause of hyperglycaemia. Results. The mean age of patients with glucose levels greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl was 68.5 years ± 13.8 SD, 50% were less than 71 years. The mean in the sample was 75 years and 52.2% (2.381) were men. The causes of hyperglycaemia were: known diabetes mellitus (75.1% of the sample, 3,423 patients), hidden diabetes mellitus (5.3% of the sample, 240 patients), hyperglycaemia secondary to other causes (19.7% of sample, 896 patients). Therefore, the prevalence of hidden diabetes in our population was 5.3% (95% CI: 4.3 - 5.6%). Of those patients with known diabetes, 10.3% had type 1 (351 patients) and 89.7% had type 2 (3,072 patients). In 18% of cases, hyperglycaemia was secondary to corticoid treatment (238 patients), in 3% to a biliar-pancreatic problem (28 patients), in 32% to isolated hyperglycaemia related to the stress of their current illness (291 patients) and in 15% to glucose intolerance (131 patients). Conclusions. The prevalence of hidden diabetes is comparable to that found in similar studies. Hidden diabetes is confirmed as being a healthcare problem of epidemiological weight (5.3% of our patients) which could have serious socio-healthcare repercussions.

Keywords : Diabetes Mellitus; Glucose Intolerance.

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