Clinical Profile of Hospitalised Patients with Episode of Hypoglycemia

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycaemia is a common finding in both emergency department and medical wards. Clinical practice has shown that hypoglycaemia is common in both diabetics and nondiabetics. Few studies have shown hypoglycaemia as one of the predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients. Apart from diabetes, several risk factors contribute to hypoglycaemia. AIM & OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the study is to identify the clinical pattern of hospitalized patients with at least one episode of documented hypoglycaemia and to find out and analyse the risk factors associated with hypoglycaemia. Also it was aimed to determine the incidence of hypoglycaemia in patients admitted to medical wards and to identify if hypoglycaemia with associated risk factors predict increased mortality in hospitalized patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 119 patients who were admitted in the Institute of Internal Medicine, Madras Medical College & RGGGH during six months period of April 2015 to September 2015 and had at least one episode of hypoglycaemia were enrolled in the study after obtaining consent. pregnant women and patients under 18 years of age were excluded from the study. Thorough history was taken and complete clinical examination and relevant investigations were carried out. Data thus obtained was statistically analysed by means of chi square ‘t’ test. RESULTS: About 3/4th of the study sample were found to be males with patients in the age group of 41-60 years (54.6%) of age being most common followed by 61-80 years of age (34.5%). Hypoglycaemia occurred in both diabetics and non diabetics. Renal failure (57.98%), Diabetes (56.3%) and Alcoholism (49.57%) were found to be common risk factors. Incidence of hypoglycaemia is found to be 1.05%. Presence of sepsis, heart failure, multiple risk factors and elderly age were found to increase the mortality in patients. CONCLUSION: Hypoglycaemia in hospitalised patient occurs in both diabetics and non diabetics. Renal dysfunction, sepsis, Alcoholism are common precipitating factors of Hypoglycaemia. Presence of sepsis, heart failure, multiple risk factors and elderly age were found to increase mortality in hospitalised hypoglycaemic patients