Patients with Diabetes Experienced More Serious and Protracted Sickness from the COVID-19 Infection: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In December 2019, a flu-like illness began in the Chinese city of Wuhan. This sickness mainly affected the lungs, ranging from a minor respiratory tract infection to a severe lung involvement that mimicked the symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The World Health Organization (WHO) labelled this sickness as a pandemic in March 2020, after it quickly spread throughout the world population. It became clear, as the illness progressed, that people with concomitant illnesses, particularly diabetes mellitus (DM) and other immunocompromised states, were outmatched by this illness. This study was aimed to evaluate the correlation between Computed Tomographic Severity Score (CTSS) and underlying diabetes mellitus in coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective study in which a total of 152 patients with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID status who underwent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest were evaluated and categorized into mild, moderate and severe cases based on the extent of lung parenchymal involvement. A total score from 0–25 was given, based on the magnitude of lung involvement. Statistical analysis was used to derive a correlation between DM and CTSS, if any. Results: From our study, it was proven that patients with underlying diabetic status had more severe involvement of the lung as compared to non-diabetics, and it was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.024). Conclusions: On analysis of what we found based on the study, it can be concluded that patients with underlying diabetic status had a more prolonged and severe illness in comparison to non-diabetics, with higher CTSS in diabetics than in non-diabetics.

Severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with COVID-19 combined with diabetes

“…However, blood glucose control and FPG level cannot be treated as independent predictors of clinical severity, and the relationship between blood glucose and COVID-19 requires further exploration. The CTSS can be used to evaluate and predict clinical classification and, in the meantime, offers some accuracy in predicting patient mortality [ 27 ], reminding us of the necessity of imaging examination in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with COVID-19. One Iranian study found no significant differences in clinical outcomes and chest CTSSs between patients with diabetes with good and poor blood glucose control [ 28 ], which is inconsistent with the findings of this study.…”

Mild Hyperglycaemia in Hospitalised Children with Moderate COVID-19 Infection

“…The relationship between COVID-19 infection and hyperglycaemia is bidirectional [ 12 ]. On the one hand, hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus have been shown to be risk factors for higher morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 [ 13 , 14 ]. On the other hand, COVID-19 contributes to hyperglycaemia (and even diabetes) due to impaired pancreatic beta-cell function and cytokine storm [ 15 ].…”