Abstract

The presence of diabetes mellitus is one of the critical risk factors for covid 19. In this study, laboratory values and outcomes of symptoms of diabetic and non-diabetic patients were compared retrospectively. One hundred ten patients (90 nondiabetics, 20 diabetics) were included in the study. The mean age was higher in the diabetic group (64 vs. 53 years) (p=0.02). Only dyspnea was higher in the diabetic group (50 vs 25%) (p=0.008). In the comparison of basal laboratory values, the number of leukocyte neutrophils, platelets, and lymphocytes was higher in the diabetic group (p<0.05). The decrease in hemoglobin and lymphocyte counts were found to be higher in the diabetic group in the follow-up of the laboratory values performed every two days (p<0.05). The length of stay in the intensive care unit was longer in diabetic patients (20 vs. 7 days) (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the glucose level and the number of leukocytes only (r: 0.4 p=0.009) and neutrophils (r: 0.41 p=0.07). The steroid use rate was 18% in the diabetic group and 7% in the non-diabetic group, but the difference was not statistically significant. (p>0.05). The average age of the diabetic covid patient group, the frequency of shortness of breath, the duration of intensive care stay was higher, and the decrease in lymphocytes and hemoglobin was higher.

Keywords: Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Infections; Covid 19; Hemoglobin; Lymphocyte; Erythrocyte