Diabetes as a Predictor of in – Hospital Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients with COVID – 19 at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To compare the outcome of COVID – 19 in patients presenting with diabetes versus non - diabetic population at a tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: Descriptive case series study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the COVID – wards of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from June 2020 to May 2021.

Materials and Methods: A total of 246 COVID – 19 patients of either sex aged 20 – 75 years of age who were PCR confirmed for COVID – 19 were included in our study. These COVID patients were divided in 2 groups i.e. group A and group B. Group A having COVID - 19 patients comprised of diabetic patients and group B also having COVID - 19 patients without diabetes were taken and followed till discharge to ascertain outcome of COVID – 19 and all information were recorded in the proforma. Collected Data was entered into SPSS version 22 and was analyzed through its statistical package. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Mean ±S.D was calculated. Mortality in both groups was compared with chi – square test at 0.05 level of significance. Effect modifiers like age, gender, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and IHD were controlled by stratification.

Results: This study enrolled a total of 246 COVID – 19 patients, of which 186 (75.6%) were male patients and 60 (24.4%) were female patients. Mean age of these 246 COVID patients was 50.78 ±12.13 years (range; 29 – 74 years). Of these 246 hospitalized patients with COVID, 93 (37.8%) were from rural areas while 153 (62.2%) belonged to urban areas. Poor socioeconomic status was noted in 78 (31.7%) and 168 (68.3%) were from middle income families. Of these 246 patients, 72 (29.3%) were diabetic, 125 (50.8%) were hypertensive and 46 (18.7%) had history of ischemic heart disease. Mean body mass index was 25.32 ± 2.28 kg / m² and obesity was noted in 36 (14.6%) of our study cases. Mortality was noted to be25 (10.2%) in these hospitalized COVID patients, mortality in diabetic patients was 29.2% versus 2.3 % in non – diabetic patients (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that mortality was significantly associated with diabetes as it was statistically significant more prevalent in diabetics than those of non – diabetic corona-virus disease patients. Mortality was also significantly associated in patients with increasing age, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and obesity. The optimal glycemic control in these patients can help to reduce further adverse outcomes such as mortality.