The association between plasma glucose and mortality of COVID-19 in patients without diabetes

Huang, Yun; Guo, Heming; Zhou, Yan; Guo, Jingjing; Wang, Tiantian; Zhao, Xuming; Li, Hui; Sun, Yihui; Bian, Xuna; Fang, Chen

Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which is a novel pneumonia can rapidly progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. It has appeared in 196 countries around the world. We aimed to clarify the association between plasma glucose and mortality of COVID-19 in patients without diabetes. Methods We performed a retrospective, single-center study of 151 patients without diabetes at Tongji Hospital from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2020. Patients were analyzed for clinical features, laboratory parameters and divided the patients into three groups according to the fasting plasma glucose, to evaluate the association between current medications and fasting plasma glucose. Results Compared with survivors, non-survivors were more likely to have underlying medical conditions including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular diseases, and chronic pulmonary diseases. Non-survivors had higher C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell counts, interleukin (IL)-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and , tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Besides, patients with higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) had higher IL-6, IL-8, CRP, and mortality. Lymphocyte counts lower in patients with better FPG. After adjusting for age and gender, the risk of death increased 3.54 folds for each tertile increment. Conclusions Because the increase of fasting plasma glucose is strongly associated with the risk of mortality in patients without diabetes, the novel parameter may need to be monitored during hospitalization.