Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Diabetic Ketoacidosis Severity and Outcomes In Adult Population - A Retrospective Observational Study

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2024

Publication Title

Journal of the Endocrine Society

Abstract

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that can be precipitated by SARS-CoV2 infection. We analyzed clinical and demographic characteristics of patients admitted with DKA to investigate if SARS-CoV2 infection affects DKA severity on admission and outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of DKA between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2023. Patients' demographic data including age, sex, race, ethnicity, laboratory test results on admission, ICU admissions and length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared. Patient characteristics and outcomes of interest were stratified by COVID-19 test results and compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. DKA severity was classified based on HCO3 values: mild 15-18 mEq/L, moderate 10-14 mEq/L, severe <10 mEq/L. Results: The study included 902 patients, of which 734 tested negative (COVID-) and 168 tested positive (COVID+) for SARS-CoV2. The mean age was significantly higher (54.09) in COVID-19+ group compared to COVID-19- group (48.25) (p<0.001). The cohort included 49.1% females, 51.7% Whites, 43.3% Blacks, 89.8% Non-Hispanic/Latino, 2.7% Hispanic/Latino. We did not find statistically significant differences in sex (p= 0.608), race (p =0.277), ethnicity (p=0.072) anion gap (p=0.783), glucose (p=0.140), hemoglobin a1c (ha1c) values on admission (p=0.876) and ICU admissions (p=0.266) between both groups. The majority (55.3%) of the patients presented with severe DKA, followed by moderate DKA in 26.6% and mild disease in 18.1% of patients without statistically significant differences between groups (p= 0.128). The mean LOS in COVID + group (11.94 days) was longer than COVID- (6.85) group (p<0.001). Mean venous pH was significantly lower in COVID-19- (7.14) compared to COVID+ (7.17) group (p= 0.016). Betahydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels on admission were higher in COVID- group (7.98 mmol/L, N 0.02-0.27 mmol/L) compared to COVID + (7.10mmol/L) cohort. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and DKA on admission did not present with more severe disease compared to patients that tested negative. COVID+ patients were older (54.09 vs 48.2) and had significantly longer LOS (11.94 vs 6.85 days). We did not identify statistically significant differences between race, ethnicity, sex, glucose, anion gap, Ha1c on admission and ICU admission rate. BHB levels on admission were higher in patients that tested negative. Interestingly, mean pH was higher in COVID-19 positive group possibly due to respiratory disorders.

Volume

8

Issue

Suppl 1

First Page

A422

Comments

ENDO 2024 Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, June 1-4, 2024, Boston, MA

DOI

10.1210/jendso/bvae163.806

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