The impact of COVID-19 on Diabetic Ketoacidosis patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Describe the prevalence/outcomes of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) patients comparing pre- (March–April 2019) and pandemic (March–April 2020) periods. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of admitted pandemic DKA/COVID-19+ patients comparing prevalence/outcomes to pre-pandemic DKA patients that takes place in Eleven hospitals of New York City Health & Hospitals. Our included participants during the pandemic period were admitted COVID-19+ patients (>18 years) and during the pre-pandemic period were admissions (>18 years) selected through the medical record. We excluded transfers during both periods. The intervention was COVID-19+ by PCR testing. The main outcome measured was mortality during the index hospitalization and secondary outcomes were demographics, medical histories and triage vital signs, and laboratory tests. Definition of DKA: Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) (>0.4 mmol/L) and bicarbonate (<15 mmol/L) or pH (<7.3). RESULTS: Demographics and past medical histories were similar during the pre-pandemic (n = 6938) vs. pandemic (n = 7962) periods. DKA prevalence was greater during pandemic (3.14%, 2.66–3.68) vs. pre-pandemic period (0.72%, 0.54–0.95) (p > 0.001). DKA/COVID-19+ mortality rates were greater (46.3% (38.4–54.3) vs. pre-pandemic period (18%, 8.6–31.4) (p < 0.001). Surviving vs. non-surviving DKA/COVID-19+ patients had more severe DKA with lower bicarbonates by 2.7 mmol/L (1.0–4.5) (p < 0.001) and higher both Anion Gaps by 3.0 mmol/L (0.2–6.3) and BHBA by 2.1 mmol/L (1.2–3.1) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 increased the prevalence of DKA with higher mortality rates secondary to COVID-19 severity, not DKA. We suggest DKA screening all COVID-19+ patients and prioritizing ICU DKA/COVID-19+ with low oxygen saturation, blood pressures, or renal insufficiency.