Researchers at Yeungnam University Medical Center have found that diabetes is an independent risk factor for severe and critical outcomes when attacked by Covid-19.

A hospital research team, led by Professor Chung Seung-min, concluded so after conducting a retrospective cohort study on 117 confirmed patients with Covid-19 at a tertiary hospital in Daegu. Due to some problems, however, 110 participants – 29 with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 81 patients without DM -- finally participated in the trial.

"The primary outcome was defined as the severe and critical outcome (SCO), such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, intensive care unit care, and 28-day mortality," the team said. “We analyzed what clinical features and glycemic control-related factors affect the prognosis of Covid-19 in the DM group.”

As a result, DM patients were older and had higher blood pressure than non-DM patients. The DM group also showed higher levels of inflammation-related biomarkers and severity score, and highly progressed to SCO.

"Elderly patients with diabetes were more vulnerable to have SCO regardless of glycemic control," the team said. "Contrary to widespread concerns, anti-hyperglycemic agents or RAS inhibitors had neutral effects on Covid-19 outcomes."

The outbreak of Covid-19 can be more threatening for people with diabetes, so agile quarantine policies and intensive monitoring during hospitalization should be provided, the team added.

The research paper, "The Risk of Diabetes on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Cohort Study," was published in the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.

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