A study on comorbidities in hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: In Mongolia, with rising diabetes cases, understanding the main reasons for hospital admissions and the prevalence of comorbidities is essential for improving care. Aim: To analyze the data of hospitalized patients, focusing on the prevalence of diagnoses, comorbidities, and complications, particularly in those with diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a hospital in Mongolia with an internal medicine department, covering the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Collected data included patient demographics, primary reasons for admission, complications, and comorbidities. Results: A total of 121 patients were admitted during the specified period. The mean age was 56.1±13.1 years, with 42.1% being male (n=51). The mean hospital stay was 7.12 days. The majority, 86.8%, were admitted through planned hospitalizations, while 13.2% were admitted from the emergency department. Among these patients, 94.2% (n=114) were hospitalized due to type 2 diabetes and 5.8% (n=7) with type 1 diabetes. The predominant reasons for admission included poor glycemic control in 66.9% of patients, DKA in 11.5%, and severe infections, such as urinary tract infections, in 21.6%. Among hospitalized diabetic patients, 95.0% (n=115) had at least one chronic comorbidity and the main contributors were cardiovascular disease (65.8%), followed by gastrointestinal disease (36.8%), and kidney and urinary tract disease (29.8%). In a logistic regression analysis examining the relationship between multimorbidity and reasons for hospitalization, having two or more chronic comorbidities increases the risk of hospitalization due to diabetic ketoacidosis by 4.5 times (odds ratio OR=4.01, 95% confidence interval 1.34-12.4, p=0.001). Conclusion: Of the hospitalized diabetic patients, 33.1% were hospitalized due to an acute condition. Cardiovascular disorders were the most prevalent comorbidities among diabetic patients, observed in 65.8% of the cases and having multiple chronic comorbidities increases the risk of acute diabetic complications by 4 times.