AIMS: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an emergency with high morbidity and mortality. This study examined patient factors associated with hospitalization for recurrent DKA. METHODS: Characteristics of 265 subjects admitted for DKA at Hennepin County Medical Center between January 2017 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Differences between subjects with a single admission versus multiple were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-eight out of 265 patients had recurrent DKA. Risk factors included African American race (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) versus white non-Hispanic鈥�=鈥�4.6, 95% CI 1.8-13, p鈥�=鈥�0.001) or other race/ethnicity (aOR鈥�=鈥�8.6, 2.9-28, p鈥�<鈥�0.0001), younger age (aOR 37-52y versus 18-36y鈥�=鈥�0.48, 0.19-1.16, p鈥�=鈥�0.10; aOR 53-99y versus 18-36y鈥�=鈥�0.37, 0.12-0.99, p鈥�=鈥�0.05), type 1 diabetes mellitus (aOR鈥�=鈥�2.4, 1.1-5.5, p鈥�=鈥�0.04), ever homeless (aOR鈥�=鈥�2.5, 1.1-5.4, p鈥�=鈥�0.03), and drug abuse (aOR鈥�=鈥�3.2, 1.3-7.8, p鈥�=鈥�0.009). DKA cost a median of $29,981 per admission. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent DKA is costly, and social determinants are strong predictors of recurrence. This study highlights the need for targeted preventative care programs.
