Prevalence and lethality of diabetes in patients hospitalised for Covid-19 in Tlemcen : Analysis of associated factors with mortality

OBJECTIVES : The objectives of our study are to determine the prevalence and lethality of diabetes among patients hospitalized for Covid-19 in the province of Tlemcen and to identify the specific parameters to diabetics that are associated with mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study including adult patients admitted for Covid-19 at academic Hospital of Tlemcen from April 1 to October 31, 2020. The main clinical data including symptoms, comorbidities and severity parameters were collected on a clinical file. The diagnosis of Covid-19 was suspected on the clinical presentation and confirmed by chest scanner on typical radiological lesions or by RT-PCR test. The diagnosis of diabetes was established on the statement of the patient and the current treatment and venous blood sugar. We contacted patients by phone and requested that medical documents be sent via the Internet to have an accurate diabetes assessment before the Covid. The primary endpoint is in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 4537 patients were hospitalized for Covid-19. 390 diabetics identified of which 164 were reachable. The analysis included 163 patients, of whom 106 men. The average age is 63 years. Type 2 diabetes is found in 96%. The average duration of diabetes is 9 years. Diabetes was discovered in 14 patients (8.6%). Antidiabetic treatments included metformin (73%), sulfonylureas (37%) and insulin (38%). The prevalence of declared diabetes is 8.7%. Mortality among diabetics is 9.2%. Variables associated with death on multivariate analysis adjusted on age, sex and duration of diabetes, were history of stroke (p- value =0,02) and angiotensin-converting enzyme taking (p-value =0,007). CONCLUSION: In our cohort of patients infected with Covid-19, the prevalence and mortality of diabetes is relatively high. Stroke and angiotensin-converting enzyme were associated with mortality.