Prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in patients with new coronavirus infection

BACKGRAUND: There is evidence of a multifactorial effect of SARS-CoV2 on carbohydrate metabolism with the development of hyperglycemia and the weighting of COVID19 even in people without DM.

AIMS: Assess the prevalence of disorders carbohydrate metabolism (DCM) in hospitalized patients with a new coronavirus infection without a history of DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with PCR-confirmed diagnosis of COVID19 aged 18-75 years (n=72) without a history of diabetes were examined. Observation was carried out from the moment of hospitalization to discharge. Patients were collected anamnesis data, laboratory and instrumental studies, HbA_1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial glycemia.

RESULTS: The prevalence of DCM (HbA_1c≥6%) in 72 patients with COVID19 without a history of diabetes admitted to the hospital was 41,7%, while HbA_1c ≥6,5% had 8,3%. The median HbA_1c in the moderate-flow group was 5,7% [5,3–6,0], and in the severe-flow group it was 6,0% [5,8–6,2] (p=0,008). Participants were divided into groups according to the level of HbA_1c≥6% and < 6%. The examined patients showed a high prevalence of risk factors for developing DM: age over 45 years — 83,3%, cardiovascular diseases — 46,3%, obesity — 50%. The study groups didn’t differ statistically in terms of risk factors for DM. In the group with HbA_1c≥6%, FPG≥6,1 mmol / l on the second day and postprandial glycemia ≥7,8 mmol/l were observed in more cases than in the group with HbA_1c<6% (39,1% vs 12,9%, p=0,051 and 47,8% vs 3,2%, p=0,0001, respectively). The prevalence of DCM in HbA_1c was higher than in FPG (41,7% vs 29,2%, p=0,006). On the seventh day, the number of patients with FPG ≥ 6,1 mmol / l in the first group decreased from 39,1% to 4,4% (p=0,01), and in the second group-from 12,9% to 9,7% (p=1,0). There was a direct correlation between the level of HbA_1c and C-reactive protein (r=0,271; p=0,048), and an inverse correlation with the content of lymphocytes in the blood (r=-0,25; p=0,068).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a new coronavirus infection without a history of DM, a high prevalence of DCM was detected — 41,7%. Against the background of comparability of the studied groups by risk factors for DM, an increase in HbA_1c, FPG and postprandial glycemia is a manifestation of transient hyperglycemia. Given the high prevalence of DCM, it can be assumed that SARS-CoV2 has diabetogenic properties.

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