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COVID-19

COVID-19 Mortality Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes and Hyperglycemia

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Hospital de Especialidades in Monterrey, Mexico, have identified key factors that increase the risk of severe pneumonia and mortality in patients with COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus (DM). The study, published in Clinical Diabetology, found that in-hospital hyperglycemia and the use of sliding scale insulin regimen significantly increased the risk of critical illness and mortality. Conversely, implementing a basal plus insulin regimen was found to be protective against mortality.

Key Takeaways:

  • In-hospital hyperglycemia and sliding scale insulin regimen increased the risk of critical COVID-19 and mortality in patients with DM.
  • Critical COVID-19 was associated with age 60 years (OR 3.13, p = 0.003), hypoxemia on admission (OR 4.86, p 0.001), inpatient hyperglycemia (OR 6.15, p = 0.001), and sliding scale insulin (OR 2.70, p = 0.010).
  • Increased mortality was associated with age 60 years (OR 2.29, p = 0.028), cancer (OR 7.77, p = 0.023), hypoxemia (OR 3.42, p = 0.004), hypotension on admission (OR 10.21, p = 0.044), leukocytosis (OR 2.42, p = 0.048), anemia (OR 3.07, p = 0.013), thrombocytopenia (OR 4.66, p = 0.006), inpatient hyperglycemia (OR 4.44, p = 0.007), and sliding scale insulin (OR 3.24, p = 0.003).
  • Implementing a basal plus insulin regimen (basal insulin + sliding scale prandial insulin) protected against mortality (OR 0.17, p = 0.003).
  • The study found that COVID-19 was associated with a mortality rate of 40.7% in hospitalized patients with DM.

Statistics:

  • 59.3% of patients were discharged, while 40.7% died.
  • The mean age of the patients was 60 ± 12.9 years, with 58.1% of them being male.
  • 248 patients were included in the study.
  • 40.7% of patients with DM died from COVID-19.
  • 59.3% of patients with DM were discharged.

Sources:

  • In-Hospital Hyperglycemia and Sliding Scale Insulin Regimen as Risk Factors for Critical Illness and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes. Clinical Diabetology, 2025, 14(1).
  • NewsRx. Hospital de Especialidades Researchers Have Provided New Study Findings on COVID-19 (In-Hospital Hyperglycemia and Sliding Scale Insulin Regimen as Risk Factors for Critical Illness and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes). Diabetes Week. October 20, 2025; p 304.

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