A population-based retrospective cohort study of pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) hospital admissions in Northern and Southern Ontario: do geography and physician diabetes care matter?

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), an acute complication of diabetes, is a major cause of death and disability in children with diabetes. The main purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of DKA hospital admissions in Ontario children with diabetes and examine how it is associated with children’s geographic location and use of physician diabetes care services. The secondary purpose was to describe trends in pediatric diabetes incidence in Northern and Southern Ontario and the entire province.