Diabetes and CoViD-19: Experience from the frontline of Internal Medicine wards in Italy. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Montagnani, A.; Pieralli, F.; Gnerre, P.; Pomero, F.; Campanini, M.; Dentali, F.; Fontanella, A.; Manfellotto, D.
• Is Part Of: Diabetes research and clinical practice. Volume 167(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Type 2 diabetes -- CoViD-19 -- Mortality; Diabetes -- Periodicals; Diabetes Mellitus -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108335
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-8227

Abstract

Abstract: Available data suggest that the issue of CoViD-19 is particularly critical in patients with diabetes. In Italy, Internal Medicine (IM) wards have played a pivotal role in contrasting the spread of SARS-Cov2. During this pandemic, FADOI submitted a brief questionnaire to a group of its members acting as Head of IM units. Considering 38 units, 58% of beds dedicated to CoViD patients in CoViD Hospitals were in charge of IM, and globally cared for 6650 patients during a six-week period. Of these patients, 1264 (19%) had diabetes. Mortality rate in CoViD patients with or without diabetes were 20.5% and 14%, respectively (p < 0.001). Our survey seems to confirm that diabetes is a major comorbidity of CoViD-19, but it does not support an increased incidence of CoViD-19 infection in people with diabetes, if compared with the figures of patients with diabetes and hospitalized before the outbreak. On the other side, patients with diabetes appeared at a significantly increased risk of worse outcome. This finding underlines the importance of paying special attention to this patient population and its management.