Role of secondary sepsis in COVID-19 mortality: Observations on patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus and newly diagnosed hyperglycemia

Diabetics who develop severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) are more likely to have severe disease, higher odds of intensive care requirement and mortality. Fifteen percent of patients have new onset hyperglycemia. We studied the comparative outcomes between prior DM, newly detected hyperglycemia and assessed role of secondary sepsis on mortality. RWe performed a r etrospective study of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. Patients were divided as 2 groups (Group 1: With preexisting diabetes mellitus, Group 2: With newly diagnosed hyperglycemia due to newly detected diabetes mellitus or non-diabetic hyperglycemia. Clinical and laboratory data was analysed. Two hundred and thirty eight patients had prior-diabetes mellitus (Group 1) and 40 had newly diagnosed hyperglycemia (Group 2). Thirty four of group 1 and 7 of group 2 patients required intensive care. Mean capillary blood glucose (MCBG) during hospital stay was 207 mg/dl (Group 1) and 192 mg/dl (Group 2). Twentysix patients (9.3%) had secondary sepsis of which sixteen died. Logistic regression identified secondary sepsis(p<0.0001), elevated D-dimer >6 fold (p= 0.0001), elderly p=0.0045), male (p=0.0006), NLR >5 (p=0.01),serum creatinine ≥2 mg/dl (p=0.0004), FiO₂ requirement >0.6 in first 48 hours (p=0.001) as mortality predictors.Our study observed a 14.38 % prevalence of newly diagnosed DM or non-diabetic hyperglycemia. Secondary sepsis and >6 fold elevation in D-dimer were strong predictors of mortality. Steroid use possibly contributed to secondary sepsis. Early identification and aggressive management of secondary sepsis are necessary for diabetics.