Diabetes characteristics and long-term management needs in diabetic TB patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is common among patients with TB. We assessed DM characteristics and long-term needs of DM-TB patients after completing TB treatment.METHODS: Newly diagnosed TB patients with DM were recruited for screening in a randomised clinical trial evaluating a simple algorithm to improve glycaemic control during TB treatment. DM characteristics, lifestyle and medication were compared before and after TB treatment and 6 months later. Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), albuminuria and neuropathy were assessed after TB treatment.RESULTS: Of 218 TB-DM patients identified, 170 (78%) were followed up. Half were males, the mean age was 53 years, 26.5% were newly diagnosed DM. High glycated haemoglobin at TB diagnosis (median 11.2%) decreased during TB treatment (to 7.4% with intensified management and 8.4% with standard care), but this effect was lost 6 months later (9.3%). Hypertension and dyslipidemia contributed to a high 10-year CVD risk (32.9% at month 6 and 35.5% at month 12). Neuropathy (33.8%) and albuminuria (61.3%) were common. After TB treatment, few patients used CVD-mitigating drugs.CONCLUSION: DM in TB-DM patients is characterised by poor glycaemic control, high CVD risk, and nephropathy. TB treatment provides opportunities for better DM management, but effort is needed to improve long-term care.

The association of admission random blood glucose concentration and body-mass index with mortality in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between hyperglycemia and body mass index (BMI), along with other associated comorbidities in hospitalized COVID-19 patients among the Indonesian population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung between March 1, 2020, and August 30, 2020. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test for categorical data and unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney alternative test for numerical data using SPSS version 24.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0. IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) and GraphPad Prism version 7.0 for Windows. RESULTS: A total of 142 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were documented between March and August 2020 at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital. Among the 142 patients, 116 (81.7%) survived, while 26 (18.3%) died. Sex, age, BMI, number of comorbidities, heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, platelet count, random blood glucose (RBG), and length of stay (LOS) were significantly associated with mortality. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that admission RBG levels > 140 mg/dl were independently associated with an increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.1-17.5, p = 0.043), while BMI > 25 kg/m2 was significantly associated with reduced mortality (OR, 0.22; 95% CI 0.05-0.88, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Admission hyperglycemia, indicated by an increase in RBG levels >140 mg/dL, is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, while obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2) might have protective properties against the risk of death.

Effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking on the outcome of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking with outcome in patients with COVID-19.METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, EuropePMC, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Central Database. A composite of poor outcome, mortality, severe COVID-19, the need for treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) and disease progression were the outcomes of interest.RESULTS: Data on 4603 patients were pooled from 21 studies. COPD was associated with an increased risk for composite poor outcome (OR 5.01, 95%CI 3.06-8.22; P < 0.001; I² 0%), mortality (OR 4.36, 95%CI 1.45-13.10; P = 0.009; I² 0%), severe COVID-19 (OR 4.62, 95%CI 2.49-8.56; P < 0.001; I² 0%), ICU care (OR 8.33, 95%CI 1.27-54.56; P = 0.03; I² 0%), and disease progression (OR 8.42, 95%CI 1.60-44.27; P = 0.01; I² 0%). Smoking was found to increase the risk of composite poor outcome (OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.16-2.00; P = 0.005; I² 12%), and subgroup analysis showed that smoking was significant for increased risk of severe COVID-19 (OR 1.65, 95%CI 1.17-2.34; P = 0.004; I² 11%). Current smokers were at higher risk of composite poor outcomes (OR 1.58, 95%CI 1.10-2.27; P = 0.01; I² 0%) than former/non-smokers.CONCLUSION: Our systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that COPD and smoking were associated with poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Unravelling the utility of modern sulfonylureas from cardiovascular outcome trials and landmark trials: expert opinion from an international panel.

AIM: The primary objective of this review is to develop practice-based expert group opinions on the cardiovascular (CV) safety and utility of modern sulfonylureas (SUs) in cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs). BACKGROUND: The United States Food and Drug Administration issued new guidance to the pharmaceutical industry in 2008 regarding the development of new antihyperglycemic drugs. The guidance expanded the scope for the approval of novel antihyperglycemic drugs by mandating CVOTs for safety. A few long-term CVOTs on dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors have been completed, while others are ongoing. SUs, which constitute one of the key antihyperglycemic agents used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have been used as comparator agents in several CVOTs. However, the need for CVOTs on modern SUs remains debatable. In this context, a multinational group of endocrinologists convened for a meeting and discussed the need for CVOTs of modern SUs to evaluate their utility in the management of patients with T2DM. At the meeting, CVOTs of modern SUs conducted to date and the hypotheses derived from the results of these trials were discussed. REVIEW RESULTS: The expert group analyzed the key trials emphasizing the CV safety of modern SUs and also reviewed the results of various CVOTs in which modern SUs were used as comparators. Based on literature evidence and individual clinical insights, the expert group opined that modern SUs are cardiosafe and that since they have been used as comparators in other CVOTs, CVOTs of SUs are not required. CONCLUSION: Modern SUs can be considered a cardiosafe option for the management of patients with diabetes mellitus and CV disease; thus CVOTs among individuals with T2DM are not required.

Fixed-dose combination in management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Expert opinion from an international panel.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease with multifactorial etiology. The first-line therapy includes monotherapy (with metformin), which often fails to provide effective glycemic control, necessitating the addition of add-on therapy. In this regard, multiple single-dose agents formulated as a single-dose form called fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) have been evaluated for their safety, efficacy, and tolerability. The primary objective of this review is to develop practice-based expert group opinion on the current status and the causes of concern regarding the irrational use of FDCs, in Indian settings. After due discussions, the expert group analyzed the results from several clinical evidence in which various fixed combinations were used in T2DM management. The panel opined that FDCs (double or triple) improve patient adherence, reduce cost, and provide effective glycemic control and, thereby, play an important role in the management of T2DM. The expert group strongly recommended that the irrational metformin FDC's, banned by Indian government, should be stopped and could be achieved through active participation from the government, regulatory bodies, and health ministry, and through continuous education of primary care physicians and pharmacists. In T2DM management, FDCs play a crucial role in achieving glycemic targets effectively. However, understanding the difference between rational and irrational FDC combinations is necessary from the safety, efficacy, and tolerability perspective. In this regard, primary care physicians will have to use a multistep approach so that they can take informed decisions.