Risk factors associated with the progression of COVID-19 in elderly diabetes patients

AIM: To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the progression of COVID-19 in elderly diabetes patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study, including elderly COVID-19 patients admitted to Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital between February 10 and 13, 2020. Demographic data, medical history, signs and symptoms, and laboratory parameters were collected and analysed. RESULTS: We included 131 elderly COVID-19 patients (50 patients with diabetes). COVID-19 diabetes patients experienced more severe pneumonia and abnormal organ functions than non-diabetes patients (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Most function indicators were significantly different between the mild to moderate and severely ill groups in diabetes patients (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Python analysis confirmed diabetes was the independent risk factor of COVID-19 progression in elderly patients. All blood glucose (BG) indices went into the risk factor equation. The cut-off values of COVID-19 progression were BG value on admission > 8.0 mmol/L or maximum BG value > 12.0 mmol/L in all elderly patients, and BG value on admission > 5.1 mmol/L or maximum BG value > 5.4 mmol/L in non-diabetes patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is an independent important risk factor, and glucose levels associate closely with COVID-19 progression in elderly patients.