Comparing outcomes of diabetic ketoacidosis hospitalisations in patients with diastolic heart failure: A retrospective propensity matched analysis of the nationwide inpatient sample

Introduction Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a known complication of patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients admitted with a diagnosis of DKA with, and without, diastolic heart failure (DHF). Methods This was a population-based, retrospective, observational study using data from the National Inpatient Sample database for the years 2016 and 2017. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were rates of sepsis, non-ST elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMI), acute kidney failure, acute respiratory failure (ARF), deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, mean length of hospital stay (LOS) and total hospital charges (THC). Results There was no statistically significant difference for the adjusted odds for in-hospital mortality between patients with and without DHF (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-1.08, p = 0.081). Patients with DKA and DHF had increased odds of developing an NSTEMI (aOR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.01-1.70, p = 0.045) or ARF (aOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.38-2.40, p < 0.001) during the same admission compared to patients without DHF. Patients with DKA and DHF also had an increased mean THC (6500 CI: 1900-11,200, p = 0.0006) in US dollars and increased LOS (0.7, 95% CI: 0.2-1.3, p = 0.011) in days when compared to patients without DHF. Conclusions Patients with DKA showed no statistically significant difference in mortality if they did or did not have a secondary diagnosis of DHF within the same admission.

Automated summary

The study found that there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between patients with DKA with or without DHF, but patients with DKA and DHF were more likely to develop NSTEMI or ARF during the same admission compared to those without DHF. Additionally, patients with DKA and DHF had higher hospital charges and longer length of hospital stay compared to patients without DHF.