Introduction: Diabetes is a risk factor for severe COVID-course. In this one-center report, we assessed clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in diabetic patients (DP) hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from a cohort of patients with confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection admitted to the University Hospital in Krakow (Poland) , a regional reference center for COVID-19, between March 6th 2020 and May 15th 2021. The data was collected from electronic medical records.

Results: We included 5191 patients, mean age 61.98±16.66 years, 2348 (45.2%) women, 1364 (26.3%) DP. DP were older as compared to non-diabetics (median age 70 vs. 62 years, IQR 62-77 and 47-72, p<0.001) with similar gender distribution. DP were characterized by higher mortality (26.4% vs. 15.6%, p<0.001) , longer hospital stay (median 15 vs. 13 days, IQR 10-24 and 9-20, p<0.001) , more frequent ICU admission (15.7% vs. 11%, p<0.001) and more frequent requirement for mechanical ventilation (15.5% vs. 11.3%, p<0.001) . When adjusted for sex and age, the relative risk for in-hospital death, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation was 1.32 (95%CI 1.13-1.54) , 1.4 (95%CI 1.17-1.69) and 1.3 (95%CI 1.08-1.57) , respectively. Multivariable logistic regression showed age, CRP and D-dimer level, history of heart failure, and loop diuretic use were associated with higher risk of death, whereas anticoagulation therapy, ACEI/sartan/mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use and thiazide use were associated with lower risk.

Conclusions: In this large COVID-cohort, DP constituted more than one fourth of hospitalized patients. Their risk of death was ca. 30% higher as compared to non-diabetics, as was the risk of other important clinical outcomes. We identified a number of clinical, laboratory and therapeutical variables associated with risk of hospital death in DP with COVID-19.

Disclosure

M.Kania: None. T.Klupa: Advisory Panel; Abbott, BIOTON S.A., Sanofi, Research Support; Medtronic, Speaker's Bureau; Ascensia Diabetes Care, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk. P.W.Witek: Other Relationship; Abbott, Berlin-Chemie AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Medtronic, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. B.Katra: None. M.W.Rajzer: Consultant; A. Menarini Diagnostics, Speaker's Bureau; Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, EGIS Pharmaceuticals, Servier Laboratories. M.Malecki: Consultant; Abbott Diabetes, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, Speaker's Bureau; Ascensia Diabetes Care, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Mundipharma, Servier Laboratories. K.Mazur: None. M.Terlecki: None. Z.Chaykivska: None. M.K.Fiema: None. M.A.Kostrzycka: None. M.Kopka: None. M.Wilk: None. J.Hohendorff: Advisory Panel; Abbott.

Funding

The authors were supported by the Polish National Center for Research and Development grant (grant number SZPITALE-JEDNOIMIENNE/18/2020) .

© 2022 by the American Diabetes Association
2022
Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. More information is available at http://www.diabetesjournals.org/content/license.