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Effect of hyperglycemia on the immune function of COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective
Ye Wang1, Bo Yi1, Shujun Wang2
1Department of Endocrinology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Insights
Hyperglycemia worsens immune dysfunction in COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Poorly controlled blood glucose correlates with increased inflammation and disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk for severe outcomes from Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Understanding the impact of hyperglycemia on immune function in these patients is crucial for managing disease severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze clinical characteristics and immune parameters in COVID-19 patients with T2DM.
- To explore the effect of hyperglycemia on immune function and disease severity in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 65 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with T2DM.
- Patients categorized into well-controlled (blood glucose 3.9-10.0 mmol/L) and poorly-controlled (>10.0 mmol/L) groups.
- Comparison of routine blood tests, lymphocyte subsets, humoral immunity, CRP, and cytokines; correlation analysis with blood glucose and disease severity.
Main Results:
- Poorly controlled T2DM patients exhibited decreased lymphocytes (CD16+56+ NK, CD3+, CD8+ T cells) and increased neutrophils, IL-6, CRP, and IgA.
- Blood glucose inversely correlated with NK cells and T cell subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+).
- Blood glucose positively correlated with IL-6 and CRP, and disease severity.
Conclusions:
- Hyperglycemia exacerbates immune dysfunction in COVID-19 patients with T2DM.
- Elevated blood glucose levels are associated with increased inflammation and more severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Purpose:
To analyze the clinical characteristics and immune function parameters and to explore the effect of hyperglycemia on the immune function in patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods:
This retrospective study included patients with COVID-19 with T2DM hospitalized in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between January 31, 2020, and February 10, 2020. The clinical data were collected and patients were divided into a well-controlled group (blood glucose 3.9-10.0 mmol/L) and a poorly-controlled group (blood glucose >10.0 mmol/L). The differences in routine blood tests, peripheral lymphocyte subsets, humoral immune components, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and cytokines were compared, and the correlation between blood glucose and immune parameters as well as the severity of the disease was analyzed.
Results:
A total of 65 patients with COVID-19 and T2DM were included in the final analysis. Compared with the well-controlled group, patients in the poorly-controlled group had decreased lymphocytes, CD16+ 56+ NK cells, CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and increased neutrophil percentage, IL-6 levels, CRP levels and serum concentration of IgA. Blood glucose was inversely correlated with CD16+ 56+ NK cells, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells and positively correlated with IL-6 and CRP levels. There was a positive correlation between blood glucose and the severity of the COVID-19.
Conclusion:
Hyperglycemia will aggravate the immune dysfunction of COVID-19 patients with T2DM and affect the severity of COVID-19.
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