ABSTRACT
Objectives: Dynamics of COVID-19 disease are changing with the emergence of the new variant of the COVID virus. Still, the severity of this disease is associated with comorbid conditions like diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, etc. and several biomarkers are studied. The objectives of the study were to estimate methemoglobin (Met-Hb), hemoglobin(Hb), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C reactive protein(CRP) levels in COVID-19 patients with DM and without DM and then to compare between two groups. Materials and methods: This observational study was conducted in 40 COVID-19 patients with DM and 40 COVID-19 patients without DM from June 2021 to October 2021 in the biochemistry department of a tertiary care hospital. For all patients, estimation of Met-Hb, Hb, LDH and CRP levels were estimated on the 2nd-3rd day of hospital admission. Results: Met-Hb, LDH and CRP levels were significantly high and Hb levels were significantly low in elderly COVID-19 patients with DM than in those without DM (P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between Met-Hb with LDH and Met-Hb with CRP in both groups and a significant negative correlation was found between Met-Hb with Hb in the diabetic group. Conclusion: In elderly patients, diabetes is one of the important and independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19 disease. Derangement of Met-Hb along with LDH and CRP shows the need for routine monitoring of Met-Hb. This may open new options in the treatment of COVID-19 disease with DM and improve outcomes in the future.
ABSTRACT
The current pandemic of COVID-19 has caused havoc all over world since its emergence and rapid spread. Within three months the virus SARS-CoV-2 which was isolated from pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in late December 2019, has affected almost all countries. India reported its first case of COVID-19 from state of Kerala on January 30, 2020, a student returned from city of Wuhan. Till date in India the disease had affected 12759 patients with 420 deaths. With every passing day the mysterious virus is been uncovered with its unique characteristics enabling the researcher to unfold the various methods including hand washing and social distancing to curtail the pandemic. Measures like 21 days lockdown to certain extent are effective but considering asymptomatic spreaders, extended measured lockdowns will be useful in the long term war against COVID-19. Till the vaccine and therapeutic solutions are derived, answer to pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 lies in lockdown, social distancing, contact tracing and containment.