Outcomes of diabetic ketoacidosis in a tertiary centre with restricted intensive care unit bed capacity

Background Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute metabolic condition, sometimes requiring admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Aims To investigate the outcomes of DKA patients admitted to a hospital with restricted ICU capacity. Methods We included all DKA patients above age 18 who were admitted to a tertiary hospital during 2004–2017. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for ICU bed availability to analyse parameters associated with ICU admission, and a composite outcome of mortality, DKA recurrence and mechanical ventilation. Results Among 382 DKA patients in our cohort, 94 (24.6%) were admitted to the ICU. The in‐hospital mortality was 4.7%. Low bicarbonate (