The true incidence of DKA is unknown.
- according to population-based studies from the USA, incidence of DKA is thought to be ranging from 4.6 to 8 episodes per 1,000 patients with diabetes
- data from the UK National Diabetes Audit show a crude one-year incidence of 3.6% among people with type 1 diabetes. In the UK nearly 4% of people with type 1 diabetes experience DKA each year. About 6% of cases of DKA occur in adults newly presenting with type 1 diabetes. (1)
DKA can occur in persons of all ages:
- a study of 4,807 episodes of DKA has revealed that
- 14 % occurred in persons older than 70 years
- 23 % in persons 51 to 70 years of age
- 27 % in persons 30 to 50 years of age
- 36 % in persons younger than 30 years
Additionally, DKA was more commonly seen in females, in persons with a migration background, and in persons 11 to 15 years of age (2)
In children
- frequency of DKA at onset of type 1 diabetes inversely correlates with the regional incidence of type 1 diabetes. Frequencies range from approximately 15–70% in Europe and North America
- the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study in the USA found that nearly 10% of youth with type 2 diabetes presented with DKA; however, overall, 5–25% of patients with type 2 diabetes have DKA at the time of diagnosis (2)
- the risk of DKA in established type 1 diabetes is 1–10% per patient per year (3)
Mortality rates are lower in developed countries (2-5%) than developing countries (6-24%)
- in UK, mortality is approximately 2%
- highest rate of mortality is in older adults and persons with comorbid conditions (2)
Reference:
- Misra S, Oliver NS; Diabetic ketoacidosis in adults. BMJ. 2015 Oct 28;351:h5660.
- Westerberg DP. Diabetic ketoacidosis: evaluation and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2013;87(5):337-46.
- Wolfsdorf JI et al. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state. Pediatr Diabetes. 2014;15 Suppl 20:154-79.