The benefits of screening all COVID-19 pneumonia patients at the time of admission for hyperglycemia

The results from a lately published study by Laurenzi et al. strongly support the need to screen hyperglycemia from all patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia. Good glycemic control has been shown to reduce disease severity and COVID-19 mortality for patients with hyperglycemia. Early detection and treatment of COVID-associated hyperglycemia may greatly benefit these patients.

The study compared the clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and major outcomes of patients who were hospitalized due COVID-19 pneumonia with COVID-associated hyperglycemia or pre-existing diabetes. Patients with COVID-associated hyperglycemia had lower BMI, significantly less comorbidities and higher level of inflammatory markers and indicators of multi-organ injury compared to patients with pre-existing diabetes. They also had poorer clinical outcomes and a delayed viral clearance compared to pre-existing diabetes. Once the viral infection was resolved, COVID-associated hyperglycemia reversed in most patients. The study concluded that recognition of hyperglycemia is relevant for early and appropriate patient management and close monitoring for the progression of disease severity.

References

• Laurenzi et al., Pre-Existing Diabetes and COVID-Associated Hyperglycaemia in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia, Biology 2021, 10(8), 754; https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737...