Background: COVID-19 infection prognosis is known to worsen in patients with various co-morbidities particularly with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and is often associated with increased serum levels of various inflammatory markers such as CRP, IL-6, D-dimer, LDH etc. Hence optimal glycemic care is crucial for a good prognosis in type 2 Diabetes (T2D) patients with COVID-19 infection. Efficacy and safety of Empagliflozin/linagliptin fixed dose combination (FDC) in T2D patients is well known. In the present study, the safety and effectiveness of Empagliflozin/Linagliptin FDC was evaluated in T2D patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.
Aim: To evaluate the safety, effectiveness of T2D patients with COVID-19 infection with empagliflozin/linagliptin FDC.
Methods: A single center, retrospective observational study included T2D patients who were on Empagliflozin/Linagliptin (25/5 mg) at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis and were followed up for 6 months. Laboratory (HbA1c, Ferritin, LDH, IL-6, CRP, D-Dimer) and clinical assessments (need for oxygen support & steroids) were done at baseline, 3rd, and 6th months. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the mean difference at specified time intervals and any p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 50 T2D patients were included with mean age (SD) was 57.44 ± 9.88 years. Patients treated with Empagliflozin/Linagliptin FDC at 6 months showed significant reduction in HbA1c (6.87 ± 0.22 mg/dL from 10.2± 0.9 mg/dL), CRP (8.9 ± 2.79 mg/dL from 99.2 ± 4.00 mg/dL), LDH (288 ± 45.12U/L from 675 ± 95.41U/L), ferritin (408.4 ± 131.00 ng/mL from 1100± 216.2 ng/mL), IL-6 (8.97 ± 2.40 pg/mL from 95.56 ± 23.4 pg/mL). Also, the need for oxygen support and daily steroid dose requirement had become lesser over 6 months.
Conclusion: Once daily Empagliflozin/Linagliptin (25/5 mg) FDC was found to be safe, effective, and well tolerated in non-critically ill T2D patients with COVID-19 infection.
A.Sengupta: None.