Clinical Profile, Previous Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and Hospital Length of Stay in Adults Admitted to Intensive Care: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Background/Objectives: The clinical history preceding diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the acute hospital course may reflect different vulnerabilities. We examined factors associated with previous DKA and total hospital length of stay in adults admitted to intensive care. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 91 unique adults admitted during 2021–2025. Firth logistic regression examined previous DKA among 68 patients with established diabetes. Negative binomial regression with HC3 robust inference examined total hospital stay. A separate post hoc Firth model examined severe acid–base presentation. Results: Previous DKA was documented in 28/68 patients (41.2%) and was associated with established type 1 diabetes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–39.83) and recorded psychiatric disorder (aOR 7.35, 95% CI 1.92–36.47). Infection-related presentation was associated with longer stay (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.40, 95% CI 1.07–1.82; p = 0.013), with standardized means of 11.4 versus 8.1 days. Newly diagnosed diabetes was associated with lower odds of severe acid–base presentation in the exploratory model (aOR 0.24, 95% CI 0.08–0.67). No in-hospital deaths occurred. Conclusions: Previous DKA and hospital stay showed different patterns of association. The estimates were imprecise and apply to a small ICU-selected population. The post hoc severity finding requires replication. These observational associations do not establish causation or support individual prediction.