CC BY
91
UDC 616.98-036-07-08 DOI: 10.22141/2224-0721.16.3.2020.205264
N.V. Pashkovska1 ©, V.I. Pankiv2 , O.V. Pashkovska3
1 Bukovinian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
2 Ukrainian Research and Practical Centre of Endocrine Surgery, Transplantation of Endocrine Organs and Tissues of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
3 Charles University in Prague, Prague, the Czech Republic
COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: management of patients during the pandemic
For citation: Miznarodnij endokrinobgicnij zurnal. 2020;16(3):180-184. doi: 10.22141/2224-0721.16.3.2020.205264
Abstract. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). People with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19. DM and uncontrolled glycemia were reported as significant predictors of severity and deaths in patients infected with different viruses, including the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1), SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, some studies did not find a clear association between DM and disease severity. However, other reports from China and Italy showed that older patients with chronic diseases, including DM, were at higher risk for severe COVID-19 and mortality. Among COVID-19 mortality cases in Wuhan, China, major associated comorbidities include DM (42.3 %), hypertension (53.8 %), previous heart disease (19.2 %) and cerebral infarction (15.4 %). Also, mortality strongly increased with the presence of DM (7.3 %) and other comorbidities like cardiovascular disease (10.5 %), chronic respiratory disease, hypertension and cancer, each at 6 %. According to several studies, the prevalence of DM in people infected with the virus is about the same as in the general population, even slightly lower. A meta-analysis of 12 studies describing data from 2,108 Chinese patients with COVID-19 reported a diabetes prevalence of 10.3 %, which was similar to the national prevalence of 10.9 % reported in 2013. Patients with DM are advised to follow general guidance on risk reduction and also specific to DM. All current recommendations of healthcare organizations and scientific communities emphasise the importance of good glycemic control during the COVID-19 pandemic as it may help in reducing the risk of infection and severity. Keywords: diabetes mellitus; COVID-19
CD FJ Щ ® Передова стаття
L- /Leading Article/
International Journal of Endocrinology
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). People with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Understanding this risk and the best ways to mitigate it is a key to enabling patients, carers, and healthcare professionals to make informed choices about ways to manage DM during the COVID-19 pandemic [1-4].
Current evidence
DM and uncontrolled glycemia were reported as significant predictors of severity and deaths in patients infected with different viruses, including the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1), SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, some studies did not find a clear association between DM and disease severity [5]. However, other reports from China [6, 7] and Italy [8] showed that older patients with chronic diseases, including DM, were at higher risk for severe COVID-19 and mortality [4].
© 2020. The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, CC BY, which allows others to freely distribute the published article, with the obligatory reference to the authors of original works and original publication in this journal.
Для кореспонденци: Пашковська Натал1я В1ктор1вна, доктор медичних наук, професор, завщуюча кафедрою шшчно!' ¡мунологГ|', алергологП' та ендокринологи, Вищий державний на-
вчальний заклад Укра'ни «Буковинський державний медичний ушверситет», пл. Театральна, 2, м. Чершвц, 58002, Укра'на; е-mail: nvpashkovska@gmail.com
For correspondence: N.V. Pashkovska, MD, PhD, Professor, Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Endocrinology, Bukovinian State Medical University, Teatralna sq., 2, Cher-
nivtsi, 58002, Ukraine; е-mail: nvpashkovska@gmail.com
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article.
nepegoBa carra /Leading Article/
DM is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by multiple metabolic and vascular abnormalities that can affect the response to pathogens. Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance promote increased synthesis of glycosylation end products and pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, in addition to stimulating the production of adhesion molecules that mediate tissue inflammation. This inflammatory process may compose the underlying mechanism that leads to a higher propensity for infections, with worse outcomes thereof in patients with DM [4].
Among COVID-19 mortality cases in Wuhan, China, major associated comorbidities included DM (42.3 %), hypertension (53.8 %), previous heart disease (19.2 %) and cerebral infarction (15.4 %). Also, mortality strongly increased with the presence of DM (7.3 %) and other comorbidities like cardiovascular disease (10.5 %), chronic respiratory disease, hypertension and cancer, each at 6 % (Fig. 1) [2].
Today, suggestions are made on the possible pathological mechanisms of the relationship between DM and COVID-19. However, no definite conclusions can be made based on current limited evidence [4].
Scarce data exist regarding glucose metabolism and the development of acute complications of DM (e.g., ketoacidosis — DKA) in patients with COVID-19. Infection of SARS-CoV-2 in those with DM possibly triggers higher stress conditions, with the greater release of hyperglycemic hormones, e.g., glucocorticoids and catecholamines, leading to increased blood glucose levels and abnormal glucose variability [9].
On the other hand, a retrospective study from Wuhan reported that around 10 % of the patients with type 2 DM and COVID-19 suffered at least one episode of hypoglycemia (< 3.9 mmol/l) [10]. Hypoglycemia has been shown to mobilize pro-inflammatory monocytes and increase platelet reactivity, contributing to higher cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes [11].
Yet it remains largely unknown how exactly the inflammatory and immune response occurs in these patients,
10.5 % of people with a cardiovascular disease who were diagnosed with COVID-19 died.
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes mellitus
Chronic respiratory disease
Hypertension
Cancer
No health condition
10.5 %
7.3 %
0.9 %
6.3 % 6 % 5.6 %
Individuals with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable than those without.
Data source: Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Emergency Response Epidemiology Team: Vital Surveillance: the epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) — China, 2020 CDC Weekly. Our WorldinData.org — Research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems. Licensed under CC-BY by the authors
Figure 1. Coronavirus: early-stage case fatality rates by underlying health condition in China
as well as whether hyper- or hypoglycemia may alter the SARS-CoV-2 virulence, or the virus itself interferes with insulin secretion or glycemic control. Furthermore, the impact of usual diabetes drug treatment on COVID-19 outcomes, as well as therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 on glucose regulation remains unspecified [4].
In addition, COVID-19 with diabetes mellitus has much more potential to progress rapidly with acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock, which may be eventually followed by multiple organ failure [5, 9].
According to several studies, the prevalence of DM in people infected with the virus is about the same as in the general population, even slightly lower [12, 13]. A metaanalysis of 12 studies describing data from 2,108 Chinese patients with COVID-19 reported a diabetes prevalence of 10.3 % [13], which was similar to the national prevalence of 10.9 % reported in 2013.
Measures in diabetic patients
Patients with DM are advised to follow general guidance on risk reduction and also specific to DM. All current recommendations of healthcare organizations and scientific communities emphasise the importance of good glycemic control during the COVID-19 pandemic as it may help in reducing the risk of infection and severity [2, 3, 14, 15].
Specific measures in diabetic patients
— More frequent blood glucose monitoring (in people who self-monitor).
— To take influenza and pneumonia vaccinations as offered.
— Patients with DM with coexisting heart or kidney disease require special care to stabilise their cardiac/renal status [3, 15].
General preventive measures
Thorough handwashing with soap and water should be encouraged since it kills the virus. Use of alcohol-based hand rubs is also healthy.
There is a need to practise proper respiratory hygiene with covering of mouth and nose with bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Touching of mouth, nose and eyes should be avoided.
Contact with an affected person needs to be minimised. Use of recommended face masks is advised if there is a contact with someone with respiratory symptoms.
Non-essential travel to major affected areas should be avoided in order to restrict the spread of infection [1, 15].
Management of patients
with diabetes mellitus and COVID-19
Medication management
Medication management is a key issue for patients with DM when unwell. It is unclear if there are specific considerations related to COVID-19. A narrative review (not systematic) of clinical considerations for DM during COVID-19 [3] suggests that:
— anti-hyperglycemic agents that can cause volume depletion or hypoglycemia should be avoided;
nepegoBa cTarra /Leading Article/
— dosage of oral anti-diabetic drugs may need to be reduced;
— oral agents especially metformin and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2) need to be stopped;
— insulin is the preferred agent for control of hyperglycemia in hospitalised sick patients.
Diabetes UK also emphasises the need to discontinue SGLT2 inhibitors when unwell (dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, empagliflozin) [15]. This may be due to an increased risk of euglycemic DKA and dehydration [16].
However, it should be noted that the question of the use of metformin in patients with DM and COVID-19 is still debatable. Practitioners have often avoided the use of metformin in patients at risk of hypoxia due to a potential risk of lactic acidosis even though metformin is rarely associated with lactic acidosis. But, on the other hand, that its risk is minimal and does not exceed the benefits of metabolic effects [17]. Moreover, metformin is included in the list of sixty-nine drugs and experimental compounds, that may be effective in treating COVID-19 based on molecular effects [18].
Noteworthy is the fact that dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is the primary receptor of MERS-CoV [19]. Since DPP-4 inhibitors are commonly applied in the treatment of diabetes worldwide, future research should explore whether DPP-4 may also act as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2, thus contributing to a potential protective effect of these drugs against COVID-19 [20].
ACE inhibitors are prescribed for many people with DM to prevent or control diabetic complications; it has been suggested that these have the potential to both benefit and cause harm in COVID-19 [3]. Nevertheless, a retrospective analysis performed on 112 patients with COVID-19 and CVD did not show a significant difference in the proportion of ACEI/ARB medication between survivors and non-survivors [21].
It should be noted that today, "there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavi-rus", according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "Some specific treatments are under investigation and will be tested through clinical trials," the WHO said [22].
Management in the community
Management in the community has been covered by recent guidance and generally follows standard sick-day rules for patients with DM.
Advice is also offered for patients with DM experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 [3, 14, 15]. Those specific to patients with DM include:
— following advice of diabetes care provider;
— checking blood sugar more frequently for people who routinely check their blood sugar level at home (every 4 hours including at night at type 1 DM);
— testing for ketones;
— contacting healthcare provider if the blood sugar level is high or if ketones are present;
— being aware of the signs of hyperglycemia for those who don't routinely test at home and contacting a healthcare provider if experiencing symptoms;
— staying hydrated;
_iEI
— trying to eat or have drinks with carbohydrates for energy;
— getting medical help as soon as possible if vomiting or not able to keep fluids down [3, 14].
It is noticed that atypical ketosis was observed in type 2 DM; fluid replacement may need to be tempered during DKA management due to risk of ARDS; in a subset in a ventilated cohort high doses of insulin were required to manage hyperglycemia; and as patients often need to be nursed prone, which interrupts feeding, there is paradoxically also a risk of hypoglycemia [3, 14, 15].
Post-discharge, they recommend blood glucose homeostasis be maintained continuously for 4 weeks and advise that patients need to avoid infectious diseases due to a lower immune response [3, 14].
Conflicts of interests. Authors declare the absence of any conflicts of interests and their own financial interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.
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Received 06.04.2020 Revised 17.04.2020 Accepted 06.05.2020 ■
Information about authors
Nataliia Pashkovska, MD, PhD, Professor, Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Endocrinology, Bukovinian State Medical University, Teatralna sq., 2, Chernivtsi, 58002, Ukraine; e-mail: nvpashkovska@gmail.com; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9896-1744.
Volodymyr Pankiv, PhD, MD, Professor, Head of the Department of Preventive and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications, Ukrainian Research and Practical Centre of Endocrine Surgery, Transplantation of Endocrine Organs and Tissues of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, e-mail: endocr@i.ua; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9205-9530. Olga Pashkovska, Charles University in Prague, Prague, the Czech Republic.
Пашковська Н.В.1, Паньюв В.1.2, Пашковська О.В.3
1 Буковинський державний медичний утверситет, м. Чернiвцi, Украна
2 УкраНський науково-практичний центр ендокринноI ^рургИ трансплантацИ ендокринних оргатв i тканин Мнстерства охорониздоров'я Укра)'ни, м. Ки'/в, Украна
3 Карлiв унiверситет у Праз1 м. Прага, Чеська Республка
COVID-19 i цукровий дiабет: менеджмент паценлв тд час пандемм
Резюме. Коронавiрусна хвороба 2019 (СОУГО-19) — по-тенцшно тяжка гостра ресшраторна шфекщя, спричинена коронавiрусом-2 (8АК5-СоУ-2), iз вираженим гострим рес-шраторним синдромом. Люди з цукровим дiабетом (ЦД) ма-ють пщвищений ризик виникнення серйозних розладiв на тлi СОУГО-19. У статт повщомляеться, що ЦД i неконтрольо-вана глшем1я е важливими предикторами тяжкосп перебцу i смерй серед пащенйв, шфшованих рiзними вiрусами, вклю-чаючи пандемiчний грип А (НШ1) у 2009 рощ, 8АКЗ-СоУ i МЕИЗ-СоУ У триваючш пандемй 8АКЗ-СоУ-2 у деяких до-слщженнях не виявлено четкого зв'язку м1ж ЦД i тяжюстю за-хворювання. Однак анатз даних iз Китаю та 1талй показав, що пащенти похилого вшу iз хротчними захворюваннями, включаючи ЦД, зазнають бшьшого ризику тяжко! СОУГО-19 та смертносп. Серед випадюв смертносп вщ СОУТО-19 в Уха-ш (Китай) основними супутшми захворюваннями були ЦД (42,3 %), артерiальна ппертенз1я (53,8 %), захворювання сер-
ця в анамнезi (19,2 %) та церебральш розлади (15,4 %). Також смертшсть ютотно зростае (на 6 %) за наявносй ЦД (7,3 %) та шших супутнгх захворювань, таких як серцево-судинш (10,5 %), хротчш захворювання оргашв дихання, артерiальна гшертенз1я та рак. За даними досладжень, поширешсть ЦД у людей, заражених вiрусом, приблизно така ж, як i в загальнш популяцй, навиь дещо нижча. За результатами метааналiзу
12 дослщжень, яш описують даш 2108 китайських пацiентiв
13 СОУ1В-19, поширешсть ЦД становила 10,3 %, що було аналопчно поширеностi 10,9 % в 2013 рощ. Пащентам iз ЦД рекомендуеться дотримуватися загальних порад щодо змен-шення ризику зараження, а також специфiчних для людей з ЦД. Усi сучаснi рекоменIдацiI медичних органiзацiй та науко-вих спшьнот п!дкреслюють важливiсть надежного контролю глшеми п!д час пандемГ! СОУ1В-19, оскшьки це може допо-могти зменшити ризик зараження та тяжкiсть хвороби. Ключовi слова: цукровий дiабет; СОУГО-19
Передова стаття /Leading Article/
Пашковская Н.В.1, Панькив В.И.2, Пашковская О.В.3
1 Буковинский государственный медицинский университет, г. Черновцы, Украина
2 Украинский научно-практический центр эндокринной хирургии, трансплантации эндокринных органов и тканей Министерства здравоохранения Украины, г. Киев, Украина
3 Карлов университет в Праге, г. Прага, Чешская Республика
COVID-19 и сахарный диабет: менеджмент пациентов во время пандемии
Резюме. Коронавирусная болезнь 2019 (СОУТО-19) — потенциально тяжелая острая респираторная инфекция, вызванная коронавирусом-2 (8ЛК_8-СоУ-2), с выраженным острым респираторным синдромом. Люди с сахарным диабетом (СД) имеют повышенный риск возникновения серьезных расстройств на фоне СОУГО-19. В статье сообщается, что СД и неконтролируемая гликемия являются важными предикторами тяжести и смерти среди пациентов, инфицированных различными вирусами, включая пандемический грипп Л (ИШ1) в 2009 году, 8ЛЯ8-СоУ и МЕЯ8-СоУ. В условиях продолжающейся пандемии 8ЛКЗ-СоУ-2 в некоторых исследованиях не выявлено четкой связи между СД и тяжестью заболевания. Однако анализ данных из Китая и Италии показал, что пациенты пожилого возраста с хроническими заболеваниями, включая СД, имеют больший риск тяжелой СОУГО-19 и смертности. Среди случаев смертности от СОУГО-19 в Ухане (Китай) основными сопутствующими заболеваниями были СД (42,3 %), артериальная гипертен-зия (53,8 %), заболевания сердца в анамнезе (19,2 %) и це-
ребральные расстройства (15,4 %). Также смертность существенно возрастает (на 6 %) при наличии СД (7,3 %) и других сопутствующих заболеваний, таких как сердечно-сосудистые (10,5 %), хронические заболевания органов дыхания, артериальная гипертензия и рак. По данным исследований, распространенность СД у людей, зараженных вирусом, примерно такая же, как и в общей популяции, даже несколько ниже. Согласно результатам метаанализа 12 исследований, которые описывают данные 2108 китайских пациентов с СОУГО-19, распространенность СД составила 10,3 %, что было аналогично распространенности 10,9 % в 2013 году. Пациентам с СД рекомендуется придерживаться общих советов по уменьшению риска заражения, а также специфических для лиц с СД. Все современные рекомендации медицинских организаций и научных сообществ подчеркивают важность надлежащего контроля гликемии во время пандемии СОУГО-19, так как это может помочь уменьшить риск заражения и тяжесть болезни. Ключевые слова: сахарный диабет; СОУГО-19
