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. 2021 Mar;21(3):279.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.9710. Epub 2021 Jan 25.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes mellitus: A North Eastern Romanian experience

Carmen Manciuc  1 , Dragos Nemescu  2 , Andrei Vata  1 , Georgiana Alexandra Lacatusu  3
Affiliations

SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes mellitus: A North Eastern Romanian experience

Carmen Manciuc et al. Exp Ther Med. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

As it spread globally, the new SARS-CoV-2 virus was first confirmed in Romania in February 2020, inevitably infecting individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) along the way. Diabetes is known to affect the response of the body to pathogens and, according to studies conducted in the last 3 months, it appears that diabetic patients are at a higher risk for developing severe forms of the disease and multiple complications. We performed a retrospective study in order to assess the patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and DM admitted to 'Sf. Parascheva' Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases from March 4th until June 30th, 2020. Of the total 1,080 patients admitted during this period, 85 patients (7.87%) had underlying DM, mostly type 2 (82 cases, 96.46%); the mean age of these patients was 62, and 42 were men (49.41%). Chest CTs revealed indicative SARS-CoV-2 images for all patients and their treatment included individually tailored administration of hydroxychloroquine/lopinavir + ritonavir/enoxaparin sodium/tocilizumab/antibiotherapy according to the then national and international guidelines. In total, 70 patients (82.35%) were cured and 15 succumbed to MODS and/or associated neoplasia, bringing the fatality rate to 17.64%. Although advanced age and DM have been associated with aggravated forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, over 80% of the patients included in the present study were cured. Nonetheless, diabetes appears to be a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality in the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: C reactive protein; SARS-CoV-2; diabetes mellitus; fatality rate; glycemic level; intensive care unit.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SARS-CoV-2 patient distribution by age and sex.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Other associated pathologies in SARS-CoV-2 DM patients. DM diabetes mellitus.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of the number of deaths and survivors with DM and without DM in SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted to the ICU. Group A, patients without DM; Group B, patients with DM. ICU, intensive care unit; DM diabetes mellitus.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Association between the glycemic level and CRP in SARS-CoV-2 patients with DM admitted to the ICU. C reactive protein; DM diabetes mellitus; ICU, intensive care unit.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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