The role of comorbidities on mortality of COVID-19 in patients with diabetes

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes are one of the most high-risk group to become infected with SARS-CoV-2. Current study was designed to evaluate the risk of other complications in COVID-19 patients with diabetes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study (25 February to July 10, 2020), 458 patients with diabetes were enrolled based on their characteristics, symptoms and signs, laboratory data and presence of other underlying diseases. Multiple logistic regression and Chi-square test analysis were used to check the effectiveness of other comorbidities on the mortality outcome among patients with diabetes. RESULTS: Of 458 patients with diabetes, 306 (67%) had other underlying diseases, such as 200 (65.4%) hypertension, 103 (33.7%) cardiovascular diseases and 29 (9.5%) kidney diseases. The rate of fatality was significantly high in patients with chronic kidney and liver diseases. The odds of mortality were increased 3.1-fold for patients over 55 years as compared to those under 55 years (P = 0.011), and the odds of mortality outcome were more than 5.1-fold for those who had chronic kidney disease (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presentation of SARS-CoV-2 in older patients with diabetes with other comorbidities such as chronic kidney and liver diseases is more severe in risk of mortality.