Glycemic parameters in patients with new-onset diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic are more severe than in patients with new-onset diabetes before the pandemic: NOD COVID India Study
During the ongoing novel COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2, diabetes is one of the most important comorbidities significantly contributing to adverse outcomes. It is unclear if new-onset diabetes during Coronavirus-19 disease varies phenotypically or biochemically with new-onset diabetes before COVID-19. Hence, Amerta Ghosh and colleagues published a study in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews under the title “Glycemic parameters in patients with new-onset diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic are more severe than in patients with new-onset diabetes before the pandemic: NOD COVID India Study”. The summary of this article is given below:
Objective:
To investigate if diabetes with onset during COVID-19 (NOD COVID) varies from new-onset diabetes before COVID-19 (NOD) in concern to clinical and biochemical profiles.
Methods:
All adults diagnosed with new-onset diabetes from the start of the COVID-19 period were compared with new-onset diabetes prior to COVID-19. This comparison was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals in Chennai and Delhi. RTPCR test for SARS-CoV-2 virus was done as appropriate, and COVID-19 antibody test was conducted in all other NOD COVID patients.
Findings:
The study concludes that patients with NOD COVID had worse glycemic parameters and higher C-peptide levels as compared to NOD. On the other hand, there was no difference in clinical, behavioral, anthropometric, or other biochemical parameters. Hence, uncontrolled diabetes indicates the involvement of lifestyle factors and delayed diagnosis rather than a direct effect of the virus. Additionally, no evidence of COVID-19 infection-causing major damage to beta cells.
Limitations:
Study subjects were enrolled from two large private diabetes centers, hence there is a possibility of different clinical patterns among patients admitted in a government hospital for covid 19.
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