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Observational Study
. 2021 Aug;35(8):107967.
doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2021.107967. Epub 2021 May 28.

Preadmission predictors of severe COVID-19 in patients with diabetes mellitus

Alpana P Shukla  1 , Beverly G Tchang  2 , Tiffany Lam  3 , Ian Steller  4 , Samir Touhamy 2nd  5 , Gulce Askin  6 , Felicia A Mendelsohn Curanaj  7 , Jane J Seley  8 , Daniel Lorber  9 , Monika M Safford  10 , Louis J Aronne  11 , Laura C Alonso  12
Affiliations
Observational Study

Preadmission predictors of severe COVID-19 in patients with diabetes mellitus

Alpana P Shukla et al. J Diabetes Complications. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To explore predictors of severe COVID-19 disease in patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of adults with diabetes admitted for COVID-19. Bivariate tests and multivariable Cox regression were used to identify risk factors for severe COVID-19, defined as a composite endpoint of intensive care unit admission/intubation or in-hospital death.

Results: In 1134 patients with diabetes admitted for COVID-19, more severe disease was associated with older age (HR 1.02, p<0.001), male sex (HR 1.28, p=0.017), Asian race (HR 1.34, p=0.029 [reference: white]), and greater obesity (moderate obesity HR 1.59, p=0.015; severe obesity HR 2.07, p=0.002 [reference: normal body mass index]). Outpatient diabetes medications were not associated with outcomes.

Conclusions: Age, male sex, Asian race, and obesity were associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease in adults with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19.

Summary: In patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19 disease, we observed that age, male sex, Asian race, and obesity predicted severe COVID-19 outcomes of intensive care unit admission, intubation, or in-hospital death. The risk conferred by obesity increased with worsening obesity. Outpatient diabetes medications were not observed to be significant predictors of study outcomes.

Keywords: Asian; COVID-19; Mortality; Obesity; Race; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

LJA reports receiving consulting fees from and serving on advisory boards for Jamieson Laboratories, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Eisai, Erx Pharmaceuticals, Real Appeal, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Gelesis; receiving research funding from Aspire Bariatrics, Allurion, Eisai, AstraZeneca, Gelesis, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk; having equity interests in Intellihealth Corp, Allurion, Erx Pharmaceuticals, Zafgen, Gelesis, Myos Corp., and Jamieson Laboratories; and serving on a board of directors for Intellihealth Corp., Myos Corp. and Jamieson Laboratories. MMS reports receiving salary support for investigator-initiated research unrelated to the topic from Amgen, Inc. BGT serves as a consultant for Novo Nordisk. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

References

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