Diabetic women: Inpatient mortality risk before SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major driver of mortality worldwide. To assess the risk factors associated with diabetes that increase in-hospital mortality.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Hospital Morbidity with a sample of 3904 diabetic women admitted (2018-2019) in public hospitals, in Portugal. The type of comorbidities and the severity of the main disease - type 2 diabetes mellitus - was assessed based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) and Disease Staging. Cox proportional hazard was used to assess mortality during hospitalization. Mortality rates and mortality risk were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

In a total of 3904 diabetic women three hundred and eighty-nine (10.0%) died during hospitalization. Comorbidities bacterial pneumonia and coronary artery disease contributed 73% [Hazard ratio (HR) 1.73, 95% CI 1.32-2.27] and 37% [HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.03-1.81] respectively, to the risk of mortality, as did age over 65 years and severity 3 of the main disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus, advanced age, and with comorbidities such as pneumonia and coronary artery disease admitted urgently have a higher risk of mortality during hospitalization.