Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus in Kuwait

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 7; no. 4; p. e06706
• Main Authors: Alshukry, Abdullah, Bu Abbas, Mohammad, Ali, Yaseen, Alahmad, Barrak, Al-Shammari, Abdullah A., Alhamar, Ghadeer, Abu-Farha, Mohammad, AbuBaker, Jehad, Devarajan, Sriraman, Dashti, Ali A., Al-Mulla, Fahd, Ali, Hamad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: COVID-19; CRP; Diabetes mellitus; Inflammation; SARS-CoV2; COVID-19; CRP; SARS-CoV2; Inflammation; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06706

COVID-19 has a highly variable clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to severe respiratory symptoms and death. Diabetes seems to be one of the main comorbidities contributing to a worse COVID-19 outcome.
In here we analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of diabetic COVID-19 patients Kuwait.
In this single-center, retrospective study of 417 consecutive COVID-19 patients, we analyze and compare disease severity, outcome, associated complications, and clinical laboratory findings between diabetic and non-diabetic COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19 patients with diabetes had more ICU admission than non-diabetic COVID-19 patients (42.4% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.001). Diabetic COVID-19 patients also recorded higher mortality in comparison to non-diabetic COVID-19 patients (34.7% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001). Diabetic COVID-19 patients had significantly higher prevalence of comorbidities, such as hypertension. Laboratory investigations also highlighted notably higher levels of C-reactive protein in diabetic COVID019 patients and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate. They also showed a higher incidence of complications. logistic regression analysis showed that every 1 mmol/L increase in fasting blood glucose in COVID-19 patients is associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.34–1.72, p < 0.001) times the odds of dying from COVID-19.
Diabetes is a major contributor to worsening outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Understanding the pathophysiology underlining these findings could provide insight into better management and improved outcome of such cases.
COVID-19, Diabetes Mellitus, SARS-CoV2, inflammation, CRP, Glucose.