Incidence of Glucose Dysregulation in Patients with COVID-19 in Babylon Governorate, Iraq

ABSTRACT

Introduction: COVID-19 is a novel illness caused by an RNA Coronavirus. Diabetes was a risk factor for poor outcomes in the previous SARS-1 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and is considered now an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in cases of SARS-2 (COVID-19). A number of studies referred to the association between COVID infection and impaired glycaemic state. Aims: To find the incidence of dysglycaemia in COVID-19 patientsand assess characteristics that put the patients at higher riskof it. Method: A total of 148 patientsadmitted between JuneandSeptember 2020 with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were included, anddivided into 3 glycaemic groups. Results: In 148 patients diagnosed with COVID 19, dysglycaemiawas disclosed in 55.4% with frank new-onset diabetes in more than half of them (56%).Younger aged patients, those with higherweight, and longer disease duration were at higher risk.Further, the mean lung involvement presented by CT scan was higher in those with dysglycaemia. Conclusion: More than 50% of COVID patients developed dysglycaemia for the first time. Young age, high weight, and long disease duration were significant risk factors. Copyright (c) 2022 Author(s).