Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Infection from the severe respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus may present as mild disease or as severe disease with high mortality. Although the majority of patients infected by the virus have a good prognosis, chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), especially in older adults may be a risk factor for a worse outcome. DM is a frequent comorbidity in patients with COVID-19.

Aim: The aim of the present work was to study the relationship between DM and SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effect of DM on disease outcome and the duration of hospitalization.

Methods: A cohort of patients were studied with confirmed COVID-19 infection examined at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Venizelion General Hospital, Heraclion, Crete during the days on duty (15 days/month) from the 1^st of March until the 31^st of August 2021.

Results: A cohort of 776 adult patients, 384 female and 391 male, medial age 47 years were included in the study. Within the group of patients examined at the Department of Emergency Medicine 129 (16.62%) had DM. Within the cohort of 129 DM patients, 70 (54.26%) male 59 (45.74%) female, with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection 106 survived and 23 died (17.83%, P<0.001). Within the group of DM patients examined at the Department of Emergency Medicine with acute COVID-19 infection 80% needed hospitalization. Within this group of patients with DM and acute COVID-19 infection who were admitted to the hospital 23 patients (17.83%) were transferred to the Acute Care Unit and all unfortunately succumbed to the infection. Mean number of days of hospitalization of the diabetic group in the COVID-19 department was statistically significantly higher as compared to that of the group without DM (10.2 vs 6 days, P<0.001).

Conclusions: It appears that DM significantly adversely affects the duration of hospitalization and the outcome of COVID-19 infection. The results of our study are in accordance with those of the literature regarding the effect of DM on the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chronic hyperglycemia significantly affects innate and humoral immunity. It appears that DM is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection.