Diabetes and SARS COV-2 infection: prevalence and impact on severity

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Diabetes is among the comorbidities frequently observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (pts) and is thought to be involved in the prognosis of the disease. Given the complexity of the association of diabetes with COVID-19, we proposed to study the prevalence of diabetes in pts hospitalized for a SARS-COV-2 infection and to identify the impact of diabetes on the severity of the clinical picture. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a descriptive retrospective longitudinal study in pts hospitalized for confirmed SARS-COV2 infection during the period from October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. <b>Results:</b> We included 213 pts, including 130 diabetic subjects (61%). Mean tobacco intoxication was lower in diabetics (p&lt;0,05). The body mass index was higher in diabetics (p&lt;0.05) as was the prevalence of hypertension (28,75% vs 51,21%; p&lt;0,05). Concerning thoracic CT-Scan, we observed a significant difference in the prevalence of moderate to severe parenchymal alveolar involvement which affected 59% of diabetics for only 42% of non-diabetics (p&lt;0.05). The biological differences observed were in diabetics a higher uremia (11 vs 7 mmol/l; p&lt;0.005) and a lower creatinine clearance (90 vs 106 ml/min; p&lt;0.05). However, liver and muscular enzymes were lower in diabetics (p&lt;0.05). Concerning outcome, transfer to intensive care unit was more frequent in diabetic pts (39% vs 21%; p&lt;0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> Diabetics with severe COVID-19 infection often have other comorbidities. They present more extensive parenchymal lesions and more frequent disturbance of renal function but less enzymatic elevation. The prognosis is worse, particularly because of the more frequent transfer to the intensive care unit.