Demographic and clinical features of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Greece: The burden of diabetes and obesity

AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between type-2 diabetes mellitus, other underlying diseases and obesity with the outcomes of critically ill Covid-19 patients in Greece. METHODS: In this retrospective observational multi-centre study, data and outcomes of 90 RNA 2109-nCoV confirmed critically ill patients from 8 hospitals throughout Greece, were analysed. All reported information stand through April 13th 2020. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 65.5 (IQR 56–73), majority were male (80%) and obesity was present in 34.4% of patients most prevalent to younger than 55 years. Hypertension was the prevailing comorbidity (50%), followed by cardiovascular diseases (21.1%) and type-2 diabetes (18.9%). At admission, common symptoms duration had a median of 8 (IQR 5–11) days. A 13.3% of the patients were discharged, 53.4% were still in the ICUs and 28.9% deceased who were hospitalised for fewer days than the survivors [6 (IQR 3–9) vs. 9 (IQR 7–14.5) respectively]. Aging was not a risk factor but diabetes deteriorates the outcomes. Obesity poses a suggestive burden as it was more notable in deceased versus survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes and obesity may have contributed to disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 critically ill patients in Greece.