Long-term persistent symptoms of COVID-19 infection in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the long-term persistent symptoms of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and COVID-19 infection at 9 months after acute infection. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted from May 20 to June 1, 2021. Results: A total of 112 patients were included in the present study. The most frequently reported persistent symptoms among DM group were fatigue (p = 0.01), shortness of breath (p = 0.01), and chest pain (p = 0.02) compared to non-DM group. Sulfonylurea use was associated with persistent cough (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Long-term persistent symptoms of COVID-19 infection are common among patients with DM.

ECG markers of malignant arrhythmias and in-hospital outcome of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: ECG abnormalities associated with COVID-19 pneumonia and adverse outcome are undefined and poorly described in prior studies. Objectives: To assess the predictive role of baseline ECG markers of increased risk of malignant arrhythmias and cardiac death for adverse in-hospital outcomes. Patients and methods: A retrospective study included 93 patients of newly diagnosed COVID-19 with features consistent with pneumonia who were admitted to the hospital from August 20 to September 20, 2020. The main outcomes were defined as receiving mechanical ventilation, in-hospital cardiac arrest, length of ICU stay, and degree of lung damage according to computed tomography (CT) score. Results: Increased QTc (QT corrected) interval, Tp-e (T from peak to end) interval, and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) were independent predictors of prolonged ICU stay (P < .0001) after adjustment for baseline clinical characteristics. Increasing age (P < .0001) followed by increased QTc interval (P = .02) and history of chronic lung disease (P = .04) were independent predictors of extensive lung damage. The independent predictors for in-hospital cardiac arrest were increased QTc (P = .02) followed by increasing age (P = .04) and increased Tp-e interval (P = .04). Conclusion: Repolarization abnormalities on baseline ECG may be useful prognostic markers in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Blood indices, in-hospital outcome and short-term prognosis in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

The predictive role of blood indices in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related in-hospital adverse outcomes and post-recovery status is not fully defined. The main aim was to assess the association of complete blood indices measured at baseline with COVID-19 related in-hospital clinical outcomes, including length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, receiving mechanical ventilation, degree of lung injury and in-hospital death, and post-recovery status. This retrospective study included patients with newly diagnosed COVID-19 infection from August 20, to September 25, 2020. The initial study cohort included 127 patients with newly diagnosed COVID-19. Of whom 26 patients were excluded, leaving 101 patients for final analysis. low lymphocytes % [Odds ratio and confidence intervals = OR (CI)] [0.2(0.0-0.2, p=0.03] increased the odds of ICU stay length while high platelet mean volume (PMV) [0.9 (1.1-5, p<0.00], high platelet distribution width (PDW) [0.3(0.4-1.9), p<0.00], and low lymphocytes % [0.2 (0.0-0.2), p=0.02] increased the odds of length of hospital stay. Decreased lymphocytes % showed significant independent association with increased risk for mechanical ventilation use [0.9 (0.9-1), p=0.04], extensive degree of lung injury [0.2 (0.1-0.7), p<0.00], and in-hospital death [0.5 (0.3-0.8), p=0.01]. High lymphocytes %[0.9 (0.9-1), p<0.00] and high PMV [0.3 (0.3-0.8), p=0.02] were significantly associated with complete recovery while increased neutrophil % [1 (1-1.1), p=0.04] was associated with increased risk for post recovery fatigue. In conclusion, low lymphocytes % and high neutrophil % are useful markers for predicting adverse in-hospital outcome and post-recovery persistent fatigue, respectively. High PMV and lymphocyte % showed significant association with favorable short-term prognosis.

Predictors of adverse in-hospital outcome and recovery in patients with diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 pneumonia in Iraq.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is limited data about the prognosis and impact of COVID-19 pneumonia on patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to assess blood indices, ECG markers of sudden death and malignant arrhythmias on admission, and diabetes lowering drugs as possible predictors of adverse in-hospital outcome and COVID-19 pneumonia recovery status. METHODS: A retrospective study included patients with newly diagnosed COVID-19 pneumonia from August 20, to October 5, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 192 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were included in the present study, of whom 67 patients had DM. Low lymphocytes % [0.4(0.1-0.9), P = .011] and QTc interval prolongation [0.4(0.1-0.8), P = .022] were associated with increased length of ICU stay. On the other hand, metformin use [0.3(0.2-4), P = .032] and DPP-4 inhibitors use [0.3(0.2-3), P = .040] were associated with decreased length of ICU stay. QTc interval prolongation [0.4(0.1-0.9), P = .017] was associated with increased length of hospital stay, while using metformin [0.4(0.2-3), P = .022] was associated with decreased length of hospital stay. Low lymphocytes % [0.5(0.4-1.6), P = .001], insulin use [0.4(0.3-5), P = .003], and old age [0.5(0.1-2.3), P = .025] were associated with extensive lung injury. The risk for in-hospital death was associated with high neutrophil% [1(1-1.4), P = .045], while metformin use was associated with decreased risk for in-hospital death [0.1(0.1-0.6), P = .025]. Insulin use [0.3(0.2-4), P = .013] was associated with partial recovery following acute COVID pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors use were associated with favorable in-hospital outcomes, while insulin use was associated with extensive lung injury and post-acute COVID-19 pneumonia partial recovery.

Sex-Related Differences in the Association of BMI and Pericardial Fat Volume With Coronary Atherosclerotic Markers in Young.

We assessed sex-related differences in the association of pericardial fat volume (PFV) and obesity measured by body mass index (BMI) with coronary atherosclerotic markers (coronary artery calcium score [CAC], coronary luminal stenosis severity, and coronary plaque) in young patients. Patients (n = 174; age <50 years) with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent 64-slice multidetector computed tomography angiography were enrolled. Females tended to have a younger age and increased BMI, normal coronary arteries (free from luminal stenosis), and increased percentage of absent coronary plaque compared with males. There was a significant independent association between PFV with coronary luminal stenosis and between PFV and BMI with coronary noncalcified plaque presence after adjustment for conventional cardiac risk factors. On the other hand, males showed a more increment in PFV, CAC, percentage of calcified plaque, and percentage of significant coronary luminal stenosis compared with females. There was a significant independent association of PFV with CAC, significant coronary stenosis, and calcified plaque presence, while no association was observed between BMI with coronary markers in young males. In conclusion, PFV, but not BMI, showed a significant independent association with advanced coronary atherosclerosis in young male patients.