Retrospective study of the impact of diabetes on the severity and prognosis of COVID-19

Patients with diabetes coexisting with viral infection tend to have poor outcomes, but the association between diabetes and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prognosis is controversial at present. The present study reviewed and analyzed the data of 1,892 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital (Xi'an, China). Demographic, clinical, laboratory and treatment data as well as clinical outcomes were extracted from the electronic medical records and compared between patients with and without diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors affecting the prognosis of COVID-19. Compared with patients without diabetes, the levels of glucose, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, creatinine, total bilirubin and plasma D-dimer were significantly increased in patients with diabetes, while the levels of lymphocytes and albumin were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that platelet count, albumin, total bilirubin and lymphocytes were significantly correlated with the severity of COVID-19. Diabetes mellitus was an independent prognostic factor that affected the mortality outcome of patients with COVID-19. Additionally, an age of >= 80 years, male sex, cerebral infarction complications and a critical diagnosis of COVID-19 at admission were risk factors for critical illness during hospitalization. The results of the present study suggest that diabetes may be a risk factor for the rapid progression and poor prognosis of COVID-19. Therefore, further attention should be paid to individuals with diabetes in order to prevent rapid deterioration.