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. 2021 Apr;7(4):e06706.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06706. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

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

Abdullah Alshukry  1 , Mohammad Bu Abbas  1 , Yaseen Ali  1 , Barrak Alahmad  2 , Abdullah A Al-Shammari  3   4 , Ghadeer Alhamar  3   5 , Mohammad Abu-Farha  3 , Jehad AbuBaker  3 , Sriraman Devarajan  3 , Ali A Dashti  6 , Fahd Al-Mulla  3 , Hamad Ali  3   6
Affiliations

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

Abdullah Alshukry et al. Heliyon. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: 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.

Objective: In here we analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of diabetic COVID-19 patients Kuwait.

Methods: 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.

Results: COVID-19 patients with diabetes had more ICU admission than non-diabetic COVID-19 patients (20.1% vs. 16.8%, p < 0.001). Diabetic COVID-19 patients also recorded higher mortality in comparison to non-diabetic COVID-19 patients (16.7% vs. 12.1%, 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: COVID-19; CRP; Diabetes mellitus; Inflammation; SARS-CoV2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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