Risk factors for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with obesity in late post-COVID period

Objective. To study the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with obesity after COVID-19. Materials and methods. 61 case histories and outpatient card abstracts of patients with obesity, who suffered from moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 from 02.2021–04.2022 were analyzed. Demographic, laboratory and clinical parameters were studied during hospitalization and 12 months after discharge from the hospital. All patients initially were divided into 2 groups according to the glycated hemoglobin level. Group 1 consisted of 46 patients with prediabetes and group 2 included 15 patients without carbohydrate disorders. Results. The median age of all patients was 64 (59–66) years. Median of HbAlc was 6,0 (5,6–6,2) %, BMI –34 (33–35) kg/m2. 24 patients from group 1, who took DPP-4-inhibitors in early post-COVID-19 period constituted subgroup 1A and 22 patients, who refused treatment with these drugs, constituted subgroup 1B. Currently, 2 patients from subgroup 1A and 10 patients from subgroup 1B (χ2=8,2 р=0,004) have been diagnosed with DM2. In patients who developed DM2 in late post-COVID period the levels of HbAlc, fasting plasms glucose and BMI at the time of admission to the hospital were significantly higher (n=12) than in patients with persistent prediabetes (n=34), (p0,05). Positive correlation between these parameters and the risk of developing DM2 (R=0,5, p0,05; R=0,74, p0,05; R=0,54, p0,05, respectively) was determined. In group 2, DM2 is currently diagnosed in 2 male patients with BMI over 40 kg/m2. When comparing subgroup 1B and group 2, it was found out that DM2 in the post-COVID period occurs in every second patient with the previous initial carbohydrate disorders: in 10 people of 22 – in subgroup 1B (every 2nd patient) versus 2 patients from group 2 (every 7th patient), (χ2=4,2, p=0,04). Online calculator from medstatistic. ru was used to determine relative risk (RR). Conclusions. Thus, presence of impaired glucose tolerance increases the risk of development of DM2 in late post-COVID period. In patients with hyperlycemia on hospitalization for COVID-19, who did not receive incretin therapy (subgroup 1B) risk of DM2 was 3,4 times higher (CI 95 %=0,87–13,40). Patients, who received incretin (subgroup 1A) had risk of DM2 = 0,6 (CI 95 %=0,09–3,97). It should be assumed that incretin therapy prevents development of DM2 in patients with hyperglycemia/impaired glucose tolerance after COVID-19.