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Aims COVID-19 is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) and euglycaemic DKA (EDKA); however, evidence regarding parameters affecting outcome and mortality rates is scarce. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted using EMBASE, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar from January 2020 to 7 January 2021 to identify all studies describing clinical profile, outcome and mortality rates regarding DKA, HHS, DKA/HHS and EDKA cases in COVID-19 patients. The appropriate Joanna Briggs Institute tools were used for quality assessment; quality of evidence was approached using GRADE. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess correlations between clinical characteristics and outcome based on case reports. Combined mortality rates (CMR) were estimated from data reported in case report series, cross-sectional studies, and meta-analyses. The protocol was submitted to PROSPERO (ID: 229356/230737). Results From 312 identified publications, 44 were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Critical COVID-19 necessitating ICU (P = 3 × 10-8), DKA/HHS presence (P = 0.021), and AKI (P = 0.037) were independently correlated with death. Increased COVID-19 severity (P = 0.003), elevated lactates (P < 0.001), augmented anion gap (P < 0.001), and AKI (P = 0.002) were associated with DKA/HHS. SGLT-2i were linked with EDKA (P = 0.004) and negatively associated with AKI (P = 0.023). CMR was 27.1% (95% CI 11.2-46.9%) with considerable heterogeneity (I 2 = 67%). Conclusion Acute diabetes-related metabolic emergencies in COVID-19 patients lead to increased mortality; key determinants are critical COVID-19 illness, coexistence of DKA/HHS and AKI. Previous SGLT-2i treatment, though associated with EDKA, might preserve renal function in COVID-19 patients.

BackgroundCOVID-19 is associated with DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis), HHS (Hyperglycaemic Hyperosmolar State) and EDKA (Euglycaemic DKA). High mortality has been observed in COVID-19-related diabetic ketoacidosis; however, evidence is scarce.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted using EMBASE, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar from January to December 2020 to identify all case reports describing DKA, HHS, and EDKA, in COVID-19 patients. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for case reports was used for quality assessment. Univariate and multivariate analysis assessed correlations of study origin, combined DKA/HHS, age, BMI, HbA1c, administered antidiabetics, comorbidities, symptoms onset, disease status (DS), CRP, ferritin, d-dimers, glucose, osmolarity, pH, bicarbonates, ketones, lactates, β-hydroxybutyric acid, anion gap, and acute kidney injury (AKI) with outcome. The relevant protocol was submitted to PROSPERO database (ID: 229356).ResultsFrom 312 identified publications, 41 including 71 cases analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The types of acute metabolic emergencies observed were DKA (45/71, 63.4%), EDKA (6/71, 8.5%), combined DKA/HHS (19/71, 26.8%), and HHS (1/71, 1.4%). Overall mortality was 32.4% (22/68 patients; 3 missing). Multivariate analysis by classical regression demonstrated that COVID-19 DS4 (P=3•10−8), presence of DKA/HHS (P=0.021), and development of AKI (P=0.037) were all independently correlated with death. Increased DS (P=0.003), elevated lactates (P<0.001), augmented anion gap (P<0.001), and presence of AKI (P=0.002) were associated with DKA/HHS. SGLT-2i administration was linked with EDKA (P=0.004); however, a negative association with AKI was noted (P=0.023).ConclusionCOVID-19 intertwines with acute metabolic emergencies in diabetes leading to increased mortality. Key determinants are critical COVID-19 illness, coexistence of DKA/HHS and AKI. Awareness of clinicians to timely assess them might enable early detection and immediate treatment commencing. As previous treatment with was negatively associated with AKI, thus implying a prophylactic effect on renal function, the issue of discontinuation of SGLT-2i in COVID-19 patients remains to be further evaluated.Key messagesWhat is already known on this subject▸Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients.▸Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) are not rare in COVID-19 diabetic and non-diabetic patients; key determinants of outcome remain unknown.What this study adds▸COVID-19 intertwines with acute metabolic emergencies in diabetes leading to increased mortality; key determinants are critical COVID-19 illness, coexistence of DKA and HHS as well as development of acute kidney injury.▸SGLT2-i administration is linked with euglycaemic DKA in patients with COVID-19, though preserving renal function.

COVID-19-related severe respiratory failure (SRF) leads to mechanical ventilation increasing the in-hospital mortality substantially. Abundancy of lung fibroblasts (LFs) in injured lung tissue has been associated with the progression of respiratory failure in COVID-19. Aiming to reduce mortality in patients with SRF (PaO2/FiO2<100 mmHg) and considering the multi-mechanistic nature of severe COVID-19 pathogenesis, we applied a combined rescue treatment (COMBI) on top of standard-of-care (SOC: dexamethasone and heparin) comprised inhaled DNase to dissolve thrombogenic neutrophil extracellular traps, plus agents against cytokine-mediated hyperinflammation, such as anti-IL-6 receptor tocilizumab and selective JAK1/2 inhibitor baricitinib. COMBI (n=22) was compared with SOC (n= 26), and with two previously and consecutively used therapeutic approaches, including either IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra (ANA, n=19), or tocilizumab (TOCI, n=11), on top of SOC. In parallel, evaluation of immunothrombosis was assessed in vitro in human LFs, treated with the applied therapeutic agents upon stimulation with COVID-19 plasma. COMBI was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (p=0.014) and intubation rate (p=0.013), shorter duration of hospitalization (p=0.019), and prolonged overall survival after a median follow-up of 110+/-4 days (p=0.003). In vitro, COVID-19 plasma markedly induced tissue factor/thrombin pathway in LFs, while this effect was inhibited by the immunomodulatory agents of COMBI providing a mechanistic explanation for the clinical observations. These results suggest the design of randomized trials using combined immunomodulatory therapies in COVID-19-associated SRF targeting multiple interconnected pathways of immunothrombosis.