Non-Traumatic Coma in Internal Medicine: Epidemiological, Clinical, Etiological, and Therapeutic Aspects

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.