COVID-19 in a country with a very high prevalence of diabetes: The impact of admission hyperglycaemia on mortality.

Aims: To evaluate the frequency of diabetes and admission hyperglycaemia in Mexican COVID-19 patients, to describe the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with admission hyperglycaemia and to determinate the impact of diabetes and admission hyperglycaemia on COVID-19 severity and mortality. Methods: A multicentric study was performed in 480 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Clinical and biochemical characteristics were evaluated in patients with admission hyperglycaemia and compared with non-hyperglycaemic patients. The effect of diabetes and admission hyperglycaemia on severity and risk of death were evaluated. Results: Age was 50.7 ± 13.6 years; 68.3% were male. Some 48.5% (n = 233) had admission hyperglycaemia; 29% (n = 139) of these patients had pre-existing diabetes. Patients with admission hyperglycaemia had more requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), higher levels of urea, D-dimer and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as well as lower lymphocyte count. An association between admission hyperglycaemia with IMV and D-dimer with glucose was found. Age ≥50 years (OR 2.09; 95%CI 1.37-3.17), pre-existing diabetes (OR 2.38; 95%CI 1.59-5.04) and admission hyperglycaemia (OR 8.24; 95%CI 4.74-14.32) were risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Admission hyperglycaemia is presented in 48.5% of COVID-19 patients. Diabetes and admission hyperglycaemia are associated with the severity of disease and mortality. This study shows the devastating conjunction of hyperglycaemia and COVID-19. Clinical trial registration: Clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19, DI/20/204/04/41 (Hospital General de Mexico) and NR-13-2020 (Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Ixtapaluca).

Dímeros D e hiperglucemia y mortalidad en COVID-19 en un centro hospitalario de México / D-dimers, hyperglycemia and mortality in COVID-19 in a hospital in Mexico

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre la concentración de glucosa al ingreso y los niveles circulantes de dímeros D en pacientes hospitalizados por enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Pacientes y métodos: Se estudiaron 187 pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19. Se evaluaron las características bioquímicas, la concentración de glucosa y dímeros D, la gravedad de la enfermedad definida por la presencia de neumonía y/o insuficiencia respiratoria que ameritó ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI) y la causa del egreso hospitalario. Resultados: La edad promedio de los pacientes fue 52 años, el 68% eran hombres, un 40.8% con obesidad y un 23.5% con hipertensión. Del total de pacientes hospitalizados, el 45.5% presentaba diabetes o hiperglucemia a la admisión. La concentración de proteína C reactiva y de dímeros D (1,134 [646.5-4,135.0] vs. 755 [548.7-1,780.0] ng/ml; p = 0.04] fue superior en pacientes con diabetes e hiperglucemia, en comparación con los pacientes con glucosa normal. Los pacientes que requirieron VMI presentaron también mayor concentración de dímeros D. Se observó una correlación directa entre las concentraciones de glucosa inicial y dímeros D (r: 0.239; p = 0.003). Conclusión: En los pacientes con COVID-19 el estado hiperglucémico se asocia directamente con un incremento de la concentración de dímeros D. Los resultados de este estudio deben conducir a insistir en el control glucémico como estrategia fundamental en los pacientes con COVID-19.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the association between glucose level at admission and circulating levels of D-dimers in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: 187 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were studied. Biochemical characteristics, glucose and D-dimers levels, severity of disease, defined by the presence of pneumonia and/or respiratory failure that required invasive mechanical ventilation (IVM) and the cause of hospital discharge were evaluated. Results: Age was 52 years, 68% were male, 40.8% with obesity and 23.5% with hypertension. Of the total of hospitalized patients, 45.5% had diabetes or hyperglycemia upon admission. Patients with diabetes and/or admission hyperglycemia had higher levels of protein C-reactive and D-dimers [(1134 (646.5-4135.0) vs. 755 (548.7-1780.0) ng/ml, p = 0.04], compared to patients with normal glucose level. Patients who required IMV also had a higher concentration of D-dimers. A correlation between glucose and D-dimers levels was evidenced (r=0.239, p=0.003). Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19, the hyperglycemic state is directly associated with an increase in the concentration of D-dimers and severity of disease. The results of this study should lead to insisting on glycemic control as a fundamental strategy in patients with COVID-19.