Clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes and stress hyperglycemia that developed SARS-CoV-2 infection

Introduction: Diabetes and stress hyperglycemia have been related with poorer clinical outcomes in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 and at risk for severe disease.

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes in three groups of patients (with diabetes, without diabetes and with stress hyperglycemia) with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Cali (Colombia). We included patients 18 years old or older with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, managed in the emergency room, hospitalization, or intensive care unit between March 2020 and December 2021. Immunocompromised patients and pregnant women were excluded. Patients were classified into three groups: without diabetes, with diabetes, and with stress hyperglycemia. A comparison between the groups was performed.

Results: A total of 945 patients were included (59.6% without diabetes, 27% with diabetes, and 13.4% with stress hyperglycemia). Fifty-five-point three percent required intensive care unit management, with a higher need in patients with stress hyperglycemia (89.8%) and diabetes (67.1%), with no difference between these groups (p = 0.249). We identified a higher probability of death in the group with stress hyperglycemia versus the one without diabetes (adjusted OR = 8.12; 95% CI: 5.12-12.88; p < 0.01). Frequency of acute respiratory distress syndrome, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, use of vasopressors and inotropes, need for de novo renal replacement therapy, and mortality was higher in patients with metabolic alterations (diabetes and stress hyperglycemia).

Conclusions: Diabetes and stress hyperglycemia were associated with worse clinical outcomes and mortality in patients with COVID-19. These patients should be identified early and considered them high risk at the COVID-19 diagnosis to mitigate adverse outcomes.