Demographics, Clinical Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcome of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients With or Without Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the important co-morbidity that may negatively influence the clinical outcome of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) if it co-exists. There is a paucity of data regarding the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 diabetic patients in comparison to non-diabetic patients. Thus, we aimed to compare demographics and clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcome in COVID-19 positive patients with or without DM. Method This prospective observational study included all consecutive confirmed symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients from March 8th 2020 to July 7th 2023at the National Heart Foundation Hospital p=0. 001) and had more co-morbidities (p= 0. 001) than patients without DM. Only 4. 2% healthcare personnel had DM. Diabetic patients (G-I) had more risk factors and comorbidities than non-diabetic patients (G-II): cardiovascular disease (90. 4% vs 65. 7%; p=0. 001) ; hypertension (84. 3% vs 41. 4%; p=0. 001) ; chronic kidney disease (47. 7% vs 29. 8%;p=0. 001) ; smoking (37. 8% vs 25. 9%; p=0. 001) ; dyslipidemia (37. 2% vs 17. 4%;p=0. 001) ; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/bronchial asthma (7. 5% vs 4. 3%; p=0. 001). Most of the patients with DM (G-I) were symptomatic (77. 5% vs 66. 7%; p=0. 001). Shortness of breath was significantly higher in diabetic patients (44. 8% vs 30. 6%; p=0. 001). Sore throat (12. 0% vs 2. 9%; p=0. 001), diarrhea (5. 4% vs 1. 2%; 0. 001), anosmia (10. 6% vs 3. 8%; p=0. 001), and headache (16. 5% vs 8. 8%; p=0. 001) were significantly higher in Group-II patients. Diabetic patients had more severe form of COVID-19 disease (moderate: 3. 5% vs 1. 4%; p=0. 001), (severe: 9. 5% vs 4. 1%; p=0. 001), and (critical ill: 1. 3% vs 0. 4%; p=0. 01). Most of the diabetic patients were hospitalized (52. 0% vs 29. 6%; p=0. 001) and most of the non-diabetic patients were treated either in home isolation or in institutional isolation (70. 4% vs 48. 0%; p=0. 001). COVID-19 patients with DM had worse outcome than patients without DM (mortality rate- 6. 1% vs 2. 6%; p=0. 001). Conclusion COVID-19 diabetic patients were usually older, have more comorbidities, a higher probability of hospitalization, increased risk of severe/critical COVID-19 and associated with higher mortality rate as compared with patients without DM. Bangladesh Heart Journal 2024; 39 (2): 108-116