TITLE:
Non-Traumatic Coma in Internal Medicine: Epidemiological, Clinical, Etiological, and Therapeutic Aspects
AUTHORS:
Mamadou Diakhaby, Kalil Nouny Sidibé, Mohamed Cissoko, Mohamed Lamine Conté, Maman Saley Halima, Lanciné Kourouma, Aboubacar Dioubaté, Sâa Joseph Téliano, Mohamed Adama Oularé, Amara Magassouba, Kanté Mamadou Aliou II, Diallo Mamadou Tafsir, Idrissa Diallo, Abraham Geopogui, Oumar Camara, Abdourahmane Diallo, Elhadj Salmana Diallo, Amadou Baillo Barry, Fatoumata Bah, Djibril Sylla, Amadou Kaké
KEYWORDS:
Non-Traumatic Coma, Internal Medicine, Donka University Hospital
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Internal Medicine,
Vol.16 No.3,
September
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Non-traumatic coma is a severe alteration of consciousness defined by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8/15, occurring in the absence of any head injury. It constitutes a frequent medical emergency, associated with high mortality, particularly in resource-limited countries. This study aims to analyze the characteristics, etiologies, and prognostic factors of non-traumatic coma in the Internal Medicine department at Donka University Hospital. Methodology: This was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted over a 6-month period (August 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026). We included all adult patients (aged ≥ 16 years) admitted for non-traumatic coma (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8/15). Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using R software. A descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with death. Results: The most represented age group was between 36 and 59 years old (62.6%), with an average age of 53 years ± 9 years and a male predominance (59%). Mortality was high (80%). The main etiologies were hepatic encephalopathy (59.4%), septic shock (12.2%), and stroke (ischemic/hemorrhagic) (8.1%). In bivariate analysis, male sex and hepatic encephalopathy were associated with an increased risk of death, while marital status (married) had a protective effect. Conclusion: Non-traumatic coma at Donka University Hospital is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. Better prevention of chronic diseases and early intervention could improve the prognosis.