Thyroid Disorders among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-sectional Study from a District Hospital in West Bengal.

INTRODUCTION: The coexistence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (both type 1 and type 2) and thyroid dysfunction, two common endocrine problems, is scientifically predictable. The prevalence of thyroid disorders among type 2 diabetics (more prevalent in India) was studied among patients visiting the outpatient department (OPD) of a district hospital in West Bengal to assess its relation with different characteristics of type 2 DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients suffering from type 2 DM (already diagnosed and on treatment) were randomly selected from the OPD (irrespective of their glycemic status). The thyroid status of all those patients was assessed. All diabetic patients were studied with a predesigned schedule and lab investigations for the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its association with pertinent variables from January to December 2019. RESULTS: This study found a 28.3% prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among diabetics. It was significantly associated with poor glycemic control [rising hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level] (actual p-value for HbA1c vs abnormal thyroid status = 2.4 E-21) but not with other variables, including the duration of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Screening for thyroid dysfunction among diabetic persons should be routine, and strict glycemic control is essential.

Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on COVID-19 outcome: A Record Based Observational Study in West Bengal.

BACKGROUND: Since its first identification in December 2019, in WUHAN (CHINA), SARS-COV-2, causative agent of Corona virus pandemic, has affected millions of people worldwide, causing thousands of death. There is much speculation about the interplay between ACEI/ARB and Corona virus infection, as for internalization into host cell SARS-COV-2 binds through S spike protein to ACE-2, aided TMPRSS2. METHODS: A record based observational study has been conducted (data obtained from the clinics of fourteen physicians) in two worst affected districts of West Bengal, to find out the association of ACEI/ARB on patients, suffering from Corona virus infection. The study-protocol has already been approved by Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine. (IEC Ref. No: CREC-STM/2020-AS-37) Results: Increasing age, male sex and presence of co-morbidities (viz. Diabetes, COPD) are significantly associated with the occurrence of moderate and severe disease. Drugs (viz. ACEI/ARB), though are associated with less severe disease, have not achieved statistical significance, in the present study. CONCLUSION: Drugs, like ACEI/ARB, should be continued in patients suffering from COVID-19 infection, (if they are already on these drugs).