Efficacy and safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists therapy initiation in patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized with coronavirus infection

BACKGROUND. The search for new effective methods of treatment and prevention of COVID-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains an urgent task for the healthcare system.

AIM. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of initiating of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) therapy in T2DM patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The inclusion criteria were history of T2DM, BMI> 27 kg/m2, confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The intervention group of 53 patients started dulaglutide therapy (1,5 mg once weekly) during the first 24 hours of admission, the control group consisted of 50 patients, who proceeded with glucose-lowering therapy. We evaluated the effect of therapy on carbohydrate metabolism, laboratory and clinical parameters, the outcome of COVID-19 and the safety of therapy (hypoglycemic events, side effects).

RESULTS. There were no differences found in the degree of decrease in the level of glycemia in the compared groups: fasting plasma glucose (FPG) on day 7 of hospitalization– 8,2 [6,0;9,8] mmol/L vs 8,1 [6,5;9,8] mmol/L (p=0,935), mean daily glycemia (MDG) — 9,7 [8,3;11,8] mmol/L vs 11,1 [8,7;12,8] mmol/L (p=0,182). Therapy of dulaglutide had a positive effect on inflammatory markers: CRP (15,8 vs 24,4 mg/l, p=0,035), LDH (261,6 vs 326,1 U/l, p=0,016) and the level of lymphocytes (1,2 vs 0,9 x 10*9/L, p=0,049) and on clinical parameters: saturation, the need for oxygen therapy and the risk of severe course according to the NEWS2 scale. The death rate in the group receiving GLP-1RA is 3,5 times lower compared to the control group (5,7% vs 20,0%, p=0,038). The initiation of dulaglutide therapy in patients with T2DM hospitalized with COVID-19 reduced the chance of death and transfer to mechanical ventilation by 4,2 times compared to the control group (OR = 0,24, 95% CI: 0,062–0,931). GLP-1RA therapy in patients with COVID-19 and T2DM is safe in terms of hypoglycemic events and side effects.

CONCLUSIONS. The initiation of GLP-1RA therapy leads to a decrease in FPG and MDG, comparable with the control group. The start of GLP-1RA therapy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and T2DM reduces the chance of death, favorably affecting on laboratory and clinical parameters.

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