A new scoping review looked at 25 studies about diabetic emergencies in Africa. These emergencies include diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), and hypoglycemia. The goal was to understand how often these events happen and how severe they are for people with diabetes in Africa.
The review found big differences in how often these emergencies were reported. For DKA, the rate in studies ranged from 2% to 93%. For HHS, it was 4% to 51%. Hypoglycemia was reported in 0.8% to 28% of cases. This shows that the burden of these emergencies is not the same across the continent.
When it comes to outcomes, the results are also concerning. In-hospital death rates ranged from 5% to 17%. For DKA specifically, the case fatality rate could reach 30% in some places. The median hospital stay was 6 to 9 days, which is a long time for patients and their families.
These findings highlight that diabetic emergencies are a major cause of illness and death in Africa. They put a heavy strain on healthcare systems. More work is needed to prevent these events and improve care for people with diabetes in the region.
