Risk factors for hospital admission among COVID-19 patients with diabetes. A study from Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the risk factors for hospital admission among COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between May 2020 and July 2020. Out of 7,260 COVID-19 patients, 920 were identified as T2DM. After the exclusion process, 806 patients with T2DM were included in this analysis. Patients' data were extracted from electronic medical records. A logistic regression model was performed to estimate the risk factors of hospital admission. Results: Of the total of 806 COVID-19 patients with T2DM, 48% were admitted in the hospital, 52% were placed under home isolation. Older age between 70-79 years (OR [odd ratio] 2.56; p=0.017), ≥80 years (OR 6.48; p=0.001) were significantly more likely to be hospitalized compared to less than 40 years. Similarly, patients with higher HbA1c level of ≥9% compared to less than 7%; (OR 1.58; p=0.047); patients with comorbidities such as, hypertension (OR 1.43; p=0.048), cardiovascular disease (OR 1.56; p=0.033), cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.38; p=0.016), chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.51; p=0.018), malignancy (OR 2.45; p=0.025), chronic kidney disease (CKD) IIIa, IIIb, IV (OR 2.37; p=0.008), CKD V (OR 5.07; p=0.007) were significantly more likely to be hospitalized. Likewise, insulin-treated (OR 1.46; p=0.03) were more likely to require hospital admission compared to non-insulin treated patients. CONCLUSION: Among COVID-19 patients with diabetes, higher age, high HbA1c level, and presence of other comorbidities were found to be significant risk factors for the hospital admission.

Severe aortic regurgitation complicating Takayasu's arteritis.

We present an uncommon case of a 48-year-old female patient with symptomatic presentation of a severe aortic regurgitation with aneurysm of the ascending aorta and progressive dyspnea. Detailed investigation of laboratory tests and imaging identified Takayasu's arteritis (TA) as the underlying etiology. Computed tomography scan revealed complete occlusion of the right carotid artery as well as stenosis at the origins of left subclavian and vertebral arteries. In addition, cardiac magnetic resonance angiogram showed aneurysm at the proximal segment of right subclavian artery. Intervention with corticosteroids effectively diminished the need for immediate surgical intervention. Treating physicians should always consider differential diagnosis of TA in the presence of atypical clinical findings in all patients with cardiac problems especially when there is valve involvement.