ABSTRACT
Introduction: People with diabetes are particularly at high risk of becoming seriously unwell after contracting covid-19 infection. We do not fully understand underlying factors contributing to such risk/their respective contributions to outcomes. Methods: This population-based study included people living in the Greater Manchester conurbation with a recorded diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabeetes +subsequent covid-19 infection. Each individual with type 1 diabetes (n = 862)/ type 2 diabetes (n = 13,225) was matched with 3 covid-19 infected non-diabetes controls. Results: For type 1 diabetes individuals, the hospital admission rate in the first 28 days after covid-19 positive test was 10%vs4.7% in age/gender-matched controls (relative risk [RR] 2.1). For type 2 diabetes individuals, the hospital admission rate in the first 28 days after a covid-19 positive test was 16.3%vs11.6% in age/gender-matched controls(RR 1.4). Average Townsend score was higher in type 2 diabetes (1.8) vs matched controls(0.4), with a higher proportion of type 2 diabetes people in the top 2 quintiles of greatest disadvantage(p < 0.001). Within the group of covid-19 infected type 1 diabetes affected individuals, factors influencing the likelihood of admission included;age/body mass index (BMI)/ hypertension/ HbA1c/low HDL-cholesterol/ lower estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)/COPD/being of African/ mixed ethnicity. In covid-19 infected type 2 diabetes individuals, factors potentially related to a higher admission rate included;age/Townsend Index/co-morbidity with COPD/asthma and severe mental illness(SMI)+lower eGFR. Metformin prescription lowered the admission likelihood. Conclusion: In a UK population, we have confirmed significantly higher likelihood of admission in people with diabetes following covid-19 infection. Several factors mediate the increased likelihood of hospital admission including metformin. For type 2 diabetes, the majority of factors related to increased admission rate are common to the general population but more prevalent in type 2 diabetes.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In this study we set out to determine the relative likelihood of death following covid-19 infection in people with type 2 diabetes when compared to those without type 2 diabetes. Methods: Analysis of digital health record data was performed relating to people living in the Greater Manchester conurbation (population 2.82 million) who had a recorded diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and subsequent covid-19 confirmed infection. Each individual with type 2 diabetes (n = 13,807) was matched with three covid-19 infected non-diabetes controls (n = 39583). Results: For type 2 diabetes individuals, their mortality rate after a covid-19 positive test was 7.7% vs 6.0% in matched controls;the relative risk (RR) of death was 1.28. From univariate analysis performed within type 2 diabetes individuals, likelihood of death following covid-19 recorded infection was lower in people taking metformin, sodium glucose cotransporter-inhibitor 2(SGLT-2i) or glucagon-like peptide-1( GLP-1) agonist. A lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was associated with a higher mortality rate, as was hypertension history. Likelihood of death following covid-19 infection was also higher in those people with diagnosis of COPD/severe enduring mental illness, and in people taking aspirin/ clopidogrel/insulin. Smoking in people with type 2 diabetes significantly increased mortality rate. In combined analysis of type 2 diabetes patients/controls, multiple regression modelling indicated that factors independently relating to higher likelihood of death (accounting for 26% of variance) were: type 2 diabetes/age/ malegender/social deprivation (higher Townsend index). Conclusion: Following confirmed infection with covid- 19 a number of factors are associated with mortality in type 2 diabetes individuals. Prescription of metformin, SGLT-2is or GLP-1 agonists + non-smoking status associated with reduced risk of death for people with type 2 diabetes. Age/male sex/social disadvantage associated with an increased risk of death.