The Role of Glyoxal, an Advanced Glycation Product, in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients with COVID-19

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) of glyoxal (GO), which is a precursor of advanced glycation end-products, in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, treated in hospital for COVID-19 who were of similar age and disease severity with similar comorbidities. Methods: The study included 57 patients. Measurement of GO was made with the high-performance liquid chromatography method. Results: The GO values were found to be higher in the diabetic group than in the non-diabetic group (p=0.001, p<0.01). The length of stay in hospital was longer in the diabetic group (p=0.017, p<0.05). The white blood cell, neutrophil, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, procalcitonin, and ferritin values were determined to be higher in the diabetic group than in the non-diabetic group (p=0.006; p=0.005, p=0.017, p=0.011, p=0.030). Although the mortality and intensive care unit admission rates were similar in the diabetic and non-diabetic patients of similar age with similar comorbidities and COVID-19 severity, the total length of stay in hospital was determined to be longer in the diabetic patients. Together with other inflammation markers, GO, was determined to be higher in the diabetic group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that elevated GO could be associated with a prolonged recovery time in COVID-19.