Changing Trend of Risk Factors of Mucormycosis Including Diabetes, Acidosis, and Serum Iron in the Second Wave of COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

To analyze the clinic-pathological profile of patients presenting with mucormycosis infection to a tertiary care center during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital setting from April 2021 to July 2021 and analysis was carried out to find associations between the stratified data and the extent of the disease involvement based on radiological findings. Statistical tests like percentage, average, chi-square test, etc. were used wherever relevant using software called Minitab13. All the 51 patients had involvement of at least one paranasal sinus. The incidence of previously established risk factors was diabetes (66.67%), history of severe COVID-19 disease (5.88%), raised serum iron levels (1.96%), Acidosis (3.92%), steroid administration (62.75%), oxygen administration (25.49%). Elevated serum urea levels (76.47%), alkalosis in 50.98% and hyperglycemia on multiple occasions (41.17%) were observed. The mean days between start of treatment for COVID-19 and appearance of first symptom suggesting mucormycosis were found to be 27.59 days. Only in 5.88% participants mucormycosis preceded COVID-19 infection detection. The current work finds presence of traditional risk factors and associations in significantly lower frequencies than the reviewed literature. However, blood urea was elevated in three fourths of the participants. Larger scale studies in mucormycosis patients are warranted for finding the role of other risk factors including possible role of elevated blood urea and hyperglycemia in the present era.