Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus Predicts Post-COVID-19 Fibrosis.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Post-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) complications are now well-recognized and may involve multiple organs. Post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis is one of the serious long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection, and the risk factors for its development largely remain unidentified. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological profile of post COVID-19 patients with diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the patients attending the post-COVID-19 respiratory care center over a period of 1 year who were diagnosed with cases of DM were evaluated for residual clinical symptoms and radiological changes and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured from their blood samples. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study. Most patients were males in the age group of 45-60 years. Approximately 74% of patients had uncontrolled DM. Patients with uncontrolled DM had a higher probability of having a severe disease with an odds ratio (OR) of 7.30 (0.85, 62.42, and confidence interval (CI) 95%) and were more likely to have fibrotic abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) chest with OR of 3.38 (0.87, 16.86, and CI 95%). CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled diabetes predisposes to the development of post-COVID-19 fibrosis, so physicians should be more vigilant while managing these patients.