Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors relation to developing severe or critical cases in COVID-19 patients complicated with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A single center, retrospective, and observational study was used to collect 26 inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 and Diabetes. 17 and 9 patients were divided into the moderate and severe/ critical cases group. Demographic data and laboratory test results, clinical outcomes were collected, and the t-test was used for comparison between the groups.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age and body mass index between the two groups (54±8.2 vs. 61±9.1, p=0.19; 24.9±3.6 vs. 24.2±3.7, p=0.66). Fever (100% VS 47.1%) was the most common symptom; 5 cases of the moderate cases group were asymptomatic on admission. severe/critical cases group had more prominent laboratory abnormalities (NE%, LY, LY%, SAA, CRP, HBDH) as compared with moderate cases [(58.98±7.7 vs 71.69±11.53 p=0.02; 1.87±0.65 vs 0.99±0.27 p=0.01; 33.26±7.57 vs 21.61±10.2 p=0.03; 64.51±75.36 vs 148.61±121.49 p=0; 15. 24±15.42 vs 55.44±61.78 p=0.01; 156.56±48.49 vs 249.89±88.72 p=0.01)]. There were no statistically significant differences in the days of negative for SARS-CoV2 RNA and hospital stay between the two groups (28.94±10.28 vs. 25.33±7.17 p=0.35; 32.35±9.37 vs. 34.88±12.03 p=0.97)].

Conclusion: Laboratory abnormalities (NE%, LY, LY%, SAA, CRP, HBDH) may be helpful to identify critically ill patients of COVID-19 and diabetes early and reduce their mortality. Caution should be taken to patients with COVID-19 complicated with diabetes, especially with prominent laboratory results.

Keywords: COVID-19; Diabetes mellitus; Laboratory abnormalities