Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Diabetes. Oct 15, 2021; 12(10): 1789-1808
Published online Oct 15, 2021. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i10.1789
Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 1331 coronavirus disease 2019 patients divided into different groups

Total (n = 1331)
Non-diabetes (n = 1140)
Diabetes (n = 191)
P1 value
Non-comorbidity (n = 779)
Diabetes only (n = 65)
Diabetes with comorbidities (n = 126)
P2 value
Demographic
Male673 (50.6)565 (49.6)108 (56.5)0.074369 (47.4)40 (61.5)68 (54.0)0.046
Age, yr56.0 (42.0-65.0)54.0 (39.0-64.0)64.0 (56.0-70.0)< 0.00148.0c (36.0-60.0)57.0 (50.0-64.0)67.0c (59.0-72.0)< 0.001
18-49500(37.6)477 (41.8)23 (12.0)<0.001415 (53.3)c16 (24.6)7 (5.6)c< 0.001d
50-64458 (34.4)382 (33.5)76 (39.8)253 (32.5)34 (52.3)42 (33.3)
≥ 65373 (28.0)281 (24.6)92 (48.2)111 (14.2)15 (23.1)77 (61.1)
Wuhan exposure1190 (89.4)1008 (88.4)182 (95.3)0.004686 (88.3)61 (95.3)120 (95.2)0.018
Current smoking107 (8.1)93 (8.2)14 (7.4)0.73655 (7.2)3 (4.7)11 (8.9)0.149
Onset of symptom, d8.0 (5.0-14.0)8.0 (5.0-14.0)10.0 (6.0-13.0)0.2178.0 (4.8-14.0)10.0 (6.5-16.5)10.0 (5.8-12.0)0.109
Symptoms
Fever955 (71.8)823 (72.2)132 (69.1)0.381570 (73.2)46 (70.8)86 (68.3)0.496
Dyspnea270 (20.3)227 (19.9)43 (22.5)0.408135 (17.3)9 (13.8)34 (27.0)0.021
Cough777 (58.4)660 (57.9)117 (61.3)0.383433 (55.6)46 (70.8)71 (56.7)0.060
Sputum production138 (10.4)126 (11.1)12 (6.3)0.04584 (10.8)4 (6.2)8 (6.3)0.175
Hemoptysis3 (0.2)3 (0.3)0 (0.0)1.0001 (0.1)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0.885
Fatigue362 (27.2)306 (26.8)56 (29.3)0.476212 (27.2)16 (24.6)40 (31.7)0.489
Headache47 (3.5)44 (3.9)3 (1.6)0.16929 (3.7)3 (4.6)0 (0.0)0.010
Nausea or vomiting44 (3.3)39 (3.4)5 (2.6)0.56625 (3.2)2 (3.1)3 (2.4)0.939
Diarrhea112 (8.4)97 (8.5)15 (7.9)0.76363 (8.1)9 (13.8)6 (4.8)0.091
Temperature, ℃36.8 (36.5-37.5)36.8 (36.5-37.5)36.7 (36.4-37.4)0.01836.8 (36.5-37.5)36.8 (36.5-37.6)36.6 (36.4-37.3)0.018
≥ 3930 (2.4)25 (2.3)5 (2.7)0.98016 (2.2)2 (3.1)3 (2.4)0.889
Pulse ≥ 100 beats per min244 (18.5)209 (18.5)35 (18.3)0.955125 (16.1)12 (18.5)23 (18.30)0.761
Blood oxygen saturation < 93%124 (11.1)92 (9.6)32 (19.8)< 0.00143 (6.5)7 (12.5)25 (23.6)< 0.001
Respiratory rate > 24 breaths/min71 (5.4)56 (5.0)15 (7.9)0.10527 (3.5)2 (3.1)13 (10.3)0.002
Mean systolic blood pressure, mmHg 125 (120-135)124 (119-135)128 (120-140)0.001121 (118-131)127 (120-133)130 (120-140)< 0.001
Mean diastolic blood pressure, mmHg80.0 (74.0-85.0)80.0 (74.0-85.0)80.0 (74.0-85.0)0.77780.0 (73.0-83.0)80.0 (72.5-85.0)80.0 (74.0-84.3)0.550
Radiological findings
Ground glass opacity 294 (22.1)265 (23.2)29 (15.2)0.013195 (25.0)9 (13.8)20 (15.9)0.014
Bilateral patchy shadowing 813 (61.1)687 (60.3)126 (66.0)0.13462 (8.0)5 (7.7)4 (3.2)0.107
Bilateral lesions962 (82.1)805 (80.1)157 (94.0)< 0.001524 (76.2)a53 (91.4)104 (95.4)< 0.001
Comorbidity
Hypertension350 (26.3)244 (21.4)106 (55.5)< 0.001----
CHD59 (4.4)40 (3.5)19 (9.9)< 0.001----
Chronic liver disease20 (1.5)18 (1.6)2 (1.0)0.812----
CVD39 (2.9)25 (2.2)14 (7.3)< 0.001----
CKD26 (2.0)17 (1.5)9 (4.7)0.007----
COPD10 (0.8)10 (0.9)0 (0.0)0.397----
Table 2 Laboratory results of 1331 coronavirus disease 2019 patients divided into different groups

Total (n = 1331)
Non-diabetes (n = 1140)
Diabetes (n = 191)
P1 value
Non-comorbidity (n = 779)
Diabetes only (n = 65)
Diabetes with comorbidities (n = 126)
P2 value
WBC, × 109/L5.42 (4.18-7.10)5.35 (4.10-6.95)5.93 (4.49-7.53)0.0035.28 (4.00-6.77)6.11 (4.27-7.68)5.85 (4.57-7.32)0.001
NEUT, × 109/L3.58 (2.53-5.12)3.45 (2.46-5.07)4.25 (3.13-5.37)< 0.0013.29 (2.33-4.64)4.16 (2.67-5.40)4.37 (3.20-5.29)< 0.001
LY, × 109/L1.15 (0.78-1.59)1.17 (0.80-1.61)1.04 (0.72-1.43)0.0151.25 (0.86-1.65)1.27 (0.84-1.73)0.93 (0.68-1.33)b< 0.001
NLR2.95 (1.97-5.26)2.79 (1.88-4.93)3.84 (2.45-6.37)< 0.0012.54 (1.79-4.36)3.15 (2.08-5.06)4.29 (2.62-7.30)a< 0.001
Hb, g/L130 (118-140)130 (118-140)120 (117-140)0.195131 ± 16.3132 ± 14.4125 ± 17.6b< 0.001
PLT, × 109/L196 (150-251)196 (151-251)196 (147-255)0.714196 (152-242)197 (147-265)196 (146-255)0.974
PCT, ng/mL
< 0.5981 (94.4)838 (94.4)143 (94.7)0.869585 (97.3)53 (100)90 (91.8)0.006
≥ 0.558 (5.6)50 (5.6)8 (5.3)16 (2.7)0 (0.0)8 (8.2)
CRP10.9 (1.7-46.7)9.1 (1.4-39.0)29.8 (5.3-75.7)< 0.0016.11 (1.0-27.7)a13.2 (3.0-61.5)39.9 (6.6-77.7)a< 0.001
IL-6, pg/mL2.77 (1.5-14.09)2.73 (1.5-13.5)3.09 (1.5-20.4)0.4711.80 (1.50-6.27)2.32 (1.50-5.06)4.01 (2.72-28.56)0.008
PT, s13.0 (11.3-14.9)12.9 (11.3-14.6)14.3 (11.9-15.5)< 0.00112.80 (11.20-14.30)13.70 (10.80-15.05)14.50 (12.35-16.03)< 0.001
< 16830 (85.7)712 (87.1)118 (78.1)0.004493 (87.7)41 (83.7)75 (73.5)0.001
≥ 16138 (14.3)105 (12.9)33 (21.9)69 (12.3)8 (16.3)27 (26.5)
D-dimer, mg/L0.49 (0.26-1.14)0.46 (0.25-1.10)0.69 (0.35-1.35)< 0.0010.38 (0.23-0.80)0.46 (0.26-0.91)0.83 (0.46-1.94)b< 0.001
≤ 0.5555 (52.5)497 (55.0)58 (37.9)< 0.001386 (63.4)27 (50.9)31 (31.0)b< 0.0013
> 0.5 to ≤ 1.0209 (19.8)163 (18.0)46 (30.1)100 (16.4)18 (34.0)28 (28.0)
> 1.0293 (27.7)244 (27.0)49 (32.0)123 (20.2)8 (15.1)41 (41.0)
ALB, g/L38.1 ± 5.838.5 ± 5.735.7 ± 5.5< 0.00139.3 ± 5.9c36.5 ± 6.435.3 ± 5.0< 0.001
ALT, U/L23.1 (14.2-39.0)23.3 (14.0-40.0)23.0 (16.0-34.0)0.84422.0 (13.8-39.0)21.0 (16.3-33.5)24.0 (15.9-34.0)0.801
AST, U/L28.8 (22.0-40.4)28.8 (22.0-40.0)29.0 (20.0-41.0)0.58327.0 (21.0-38.0)26.0 (18.2-36.5)31.0 (22.0-43.0)a0.034
ALP, U/L58.0 (46.0-73.0)58.0 (46.0-73.0)55.0 (43.5-74.0)0.17158.0 (45.0-72.0)53.0 (38.0-68.5)58.0 (45.0-77.0)0.086
TBIL, mmol/L10.9 (8.2-14.7)10.8 (8.2-14.5)11.4 (8.3-15.7)0.19610.8 (8.2-14.7)11.4 (9.5-14.8)11.3 (8.0-15.8)0.429
Potassium, mmol/L3.90 (3.59-4.20)3.90 (3.60-4.20)3.88 (3.52-4.21)0.3253.94 ± 0.513.94 ± 0.493.86 ± 0.620.279
Sodium, mmol/L139 (137-141)140 (137-141)138 (136-141)0.001140 (138-141)a138 (136-141)139 (136-142)0.002
Chlorine ion, mmol/L104 (102-107)105 (102-107)103 (100-106)0.002104.2 ± 5.3103.1 ± 4.5103.7 ± 5.10.218
Calcium, mmol/L2.11 (2.00-2.21)2.12 (2.01-2.21)2.09 (1.95-2.17)0.0052.13 ± 0.222.11 ± 0.222.07 ± 0.180.011
Phosphorus, mmol/L1.03 (0.89-1.19)1.03 (0.89-1.19)1.01 (0.73-1.18)0.3591.04 (0.90-1.19)1.03 (0.92-1.17)1.00 (0.85-1.19)0.300
BUN, mmol/L3.96 (3.10-5.25)3.90 (3.10-5.13)4.68 (3.60-6.20)< 0.0013.70 (2.96-4.66)a4.30 (3.51-5.07)4.93 (3.60-7.01)< 0.001
Creatinine, μmol/L63.6 (53.3-78.0)63.0 (53.0-77.4)66.3 (54.0-83.8)0.08862.00 (52.70-73.00)60.00 (52.00-76.60)67.75 (55.25-90.23)a< 0.001
UA, μmol/L258 (204-336)257 (205-336)258 (193-332)0.725253 (203-327)248 (194-306)264 (191-352)0.499
CK, U/L65.0 (43.0-110)64.5 (44.0-109)66.5 (40.3-118)0.83062.0 (44.0-98.0)58.5 (36.8-108)70.0 (43.8-122)0.233
LDH, U/L205 (162-272)201 (160-261)229 (180-341)< 0.001186 (155-239)198 (164-282)251 (195-362)a< 0.001
Hs-cTnI > ULN, pg/mL130 (22.1)117 (23.4)13 (14.90)0.08071 (23.5)3 (12.5)6 (9.5)0.027
TG, mmol/L1.22 (0.92-1.78)1.20 (0.89-1.77)1.39 (1.04-1.83)0.0021.18 (0.86-1.77)1.50 (1.05-2.08)1.36 (1.03-1.79)a0.004
TCH, mmol/L4.00 (3.40-4.80)4.01 (3.42-4.80)4.00 (3.22-4.78)0.1804.25 ± 1.094.34 ± 1.073.88 ± 1.08a0.004
LDL-C, mmol/L2.50 (3.00-3.12)2.51 (2.02-3.10)2.48 (1.87-3.15)0.3682.65 ± 0.892.76 ± 0.912.41 ± 0.87a0.020
HDL-C, mmol/L1.01 (0.82-1.21)1.03 (0.84-1.24)0.91 (0.76-1.08)< 0.0011.11 ± 0.42a0.97 ± 0.260.92 ± 0.27< 0.001
FPG, mmol/L5.80 (5.00-7.46)5.57 (4.92-6.89)9.10 (6.50-11.63)< 0.0015.37 (4.83-6.50)c9.40 (6.48-11.59)8.80 (6.50-12.03)< 0.001
3.9-6.9693 (69.0)650 (76.7)43 (27.6)< 0.001475 (80.2)c17 (29.8))26 (26.3)< 0.0013
7.0-11.1241 (24.0)179 (21.1)62 (39.7)108 (18.2)22 (38.6)40 (40.4)
≥ 11.170 (7.0)19 (2.2)51 (32.7)9 (1.5)18 (31.6)33 (33.3)
HbA1C6.20 (5.55-7.30)5.90 (5.40-6.30)7.87 (6.27-9.03)< 0.0015.9 (5.44-6.20)b7.60 (5.64-8.98)7.89 (6.75-9.21)< 0.001
Table 3 Treatments and outcomes of 1331 coronavirus disease 2019 patients divided into different groups

Tota (n = 1331)
Non-diabetes (n = 1140)
Diabetes (n = 191)
P1 value
Non- comorbidity (n = 779)
Diabetes only (n = 65)
Diabetes with comorbidities (n = 126)
P2 value
Treatments
Antiviral therapy1227 (92.2)1057 (92.7)170 (89.0)0.077725 (93.1)62 (95.4)108 (85.7)0.010
Antibiotic therapy1142 (85.8)982 (86.1)160 (83.8)0.385665 (85.4)57 (87.7)103 (81.7)0.472
Systemic glucocorticoid533 (40.0)458 (40.2)75 (39.3)0.813292 (37.5)23 (35.4)52 (41.3)0.657
Intravenous immunoglobulin403 (30.3)342 (30.0)61 (31.9)0.590210 (27.0)18 (27.7)43 (34.1)0.250
Renal replacement therapy2 (0.2)1 (0.1)1 (0.5)0.2670 (0.0)0 (0.0)1 (0.8)0.197
Oxygen support
Oxygenation786 (59.1)672 (58.9)114 (59.7)0.848426 (54.7)38 (58.5)76 (60.3)0.446
Mechanical ventilation154 (11.6)124 (10.9)30 (15.7)0.05368 (8.7)7 (10.8)23 (18.3)0.004
Illness severity
Severe313 (23.5)247 (21.7)66 (34.6)< 0.001123 (15.8)14 (21.5)52 (41.3)a< 0.001
Complications
ARDS86 (6.5)65 (5.7)21 (11.0)0.00626 (3.3)2 (3.1)19 (15.1)< 0.001
ACI148 (11.1)132 (11.6)16 (8.4)0.19377 (9.9)3 (4.6)12 (9.5)0.379
AKI18 (1.4)14 (1.2)4 (2.1)0.5356 (0.8)1 (1.5)3 (2.4)0.122
Secondary infection161 (12.1)139 (12.2)22 (11.5)0.79176 (9.8)4 (6.2)18 (14.3)0.162
Shock25 (1.9)23 (2.0)2 (1.0)0.5319 (1.2)0 (0.0)2 (1.6)a0.706
Hypoproteinemia < 30g/l99 (7.7)71 (6.5)28 (15.0)< 0.00138 (5.0)c11 (16.9)17 (13.9)< 0.001
Length of hospital stay, d17.0 (10.0-24.0)17.0 (10.0-24.0)16.0 (10.0-25.0)0.65517.0 (11.0-24.0)19.0 (11.5-27.0)16.0 (8.0-22.5)0.109
ICU admission125 (9.4)103 (9.0)22 (11.5)0.27657 (7.3)5 (7.7)17 (13.5)0.062
Duration from admission to ICU, d4.00 (1.00-7.50)5.00 (1.00-8.00)3.50 (1.75-5.25)0.3834.50 (1.00-8.00)5.00 (1.50-6.00)3 (1.50-4.50)0.733
Prognosis
Death, No108 (8.1)82 (7.2)26 (13.6)0.00326 (3.3)3 (4.6)23 (18.3)< 0.001
Table 4 Laboratory results of diabetic survivors and non-survivors with coronavirus disease 2019

Total (n = 191)
Survivors (n = 165)
Non-survivors (n = 26)
P value
WBC, × 109per L5.94 (4.49-7.53)5.91 (4.42-7.29)7.26(5.19-13.07)0.016
NEUT, × 109per L4.25 (3.13-5.37)4.09 (3.01-5.13)6.22 (3.69-11.33)< 0.001
LY, × 109per L1.04 (0.72-1.43)1.08 (0.78-1.48)0.65 (0.56-1.07)< 0.001
NLR3.85 (2.45-6.37)3.50 (2.33-5.53)10.43 (5.78-16.84)< 0.001
Hb, g/L127.3 ± 16.9126.8 ± 16.7131.6 ± 18.30.314
PLT, × 109per L196 (147-255)201 (152-201)155 (110-230)0.033
PCT, ng/mL
< 0.5143 (94.7)132 (98.5)11 (64.7)< 0.001
≥ 0.58 (5.3)2 (1.5)6 (35.3)
CRP29.8 (5.5-75.9)25.4 (4.4-63.0)115.3 (66.1-170.6)< 0.001
IL-6, pg/mL3.31 (1.64-17.49)3.09 (1.50-5.25)83.47 (35.75-243.60)< 0.001
PT, s14.30 (11.90-15.50)14.00 (11.60-15.40)16.20 (13.52-18.92)0.002
< 16116 (76.8)110 (81.5)6 (37.5)< 0.001
≥ 1635 (23.2)25 (18.5)10 (62.5)
D-dimer, mg/L0.69 (0.35-1.35)0.62 (0.62-1.09)5.40 (1.50-21.00)< 0.001
≤ 0.558 (37.9)57 (41.9)1 (5.9)< 0.001
> 0.5 to ≤ 1.046 (30.1)43 (31.6)3 (17.6)
> 1.049 (32.0)36 (26.5)13 (76.5)
ALB, g/L35.7 ± 5.536.0 ± 30.533.5 ± 23.40.031
ALT, U/L23.0 (16.0-34.0)21.3 (15.3-32.3)31.0 (20.9-46.6)0.008
AST, U/L29.0 (20.0-41.0)27.0 (19.0-38.7)43.0 (31.0-60.5)< 0.001
ALP, U/L55.0 (43.5-74.0)55.0 (41.5-73.0)57.0 (49.5-89.5)0.241
TBIL, mmol/L11.3 (8.3-15.7)11.4 (9.0-15.1)11.2 (7.6-28.0)0.642
Potassium, mmol/L3.88 (3.52-4.21)3.90 (3.54-4.21)3.65 (3.37-4.30)0.381
Sodium, mmol/L138.4 ± 4.3138.2 ± 3.9139.3 ± 6.40.418
Chlorine ion, mmol/L103.5 ± 4.9103.2 ± 4.7105.3 ± 6.00.052
Calcium, mmol/L2.09 (1.95-2.17)2.10 (1.95-2.20)2.00 (1.89-2.11)0.042
Phosphorus, mmol/L1.01 (0.86-1.18)1.02 (0.87-1.19)0.93 (0.76-1.18)0.268
BUN, mmol/L4.70 (3.60-6.22)4.5 (3.59-5.82)6.51 (4.92-17.45)< 0.001
Creatinine, μmol/L66.3 (54.0-83.8)64.0 (44.6-81.0)73.0 (64.0-129.6)0.006
UA, μmol/L258 (193-332)258 (147-321)293 (179-428)0.286
CK, U/L66.5 (40.3-117.8)61.0 (36.5-111.0)85.0 (71.0-364.0)0.002
LDH, U/L229 (180-341)216 (172-219)522 (420-611)< 0.001
Hs-cTnI > ULN, pg/mL10/88 (11.4)8/72 (11.1)2/16 (12.5)1.000
TG, mmol/L1.39 (1.04-1.83)1.41 (1.05-1.98)1.31 (0.99-1.57)0.398
TCH, mmol/L4.04 ± 1.104.12 ± 1.063.39 ± 1.160.009
LDL-C, mmol/L2.54 ± 0.902.59 ± 0.882.10 ± 0.930.036
HDL-C, mmol/L0.94 ± 0.260.94 ± 0.260.89 ± 0.330.450
FPG, mmol/L9.10 (6.50-11.72)8.70 (6.50-11.36)12.00 (9.40-16.81)0.011
3.9-6.943 (27.7)40 (28.6)3 (20.0)0.0691
7.0-11.161 (39.4)58 (41.4)3 (20.0)
≥ 11.151 (32.9)42 (30.0)9 (60.0)
HbA1C7.77 ± 1.977.61 ± 1.909.53 ± 2.020.021
Table 5 Treatments and outcomes of diabetic survivors and non-survivors with coronavirus disease 2019

Total (n = 191)
Survivors (n = 165)
Non-survivors (n = 26)
P value
Treatments
Antiviral therapy170 (89.0)149 (90.3)21 (80.8)0.268
Antibiotic therapy160 (83.8)139 (84.2)21 (80.8)0.873
Systemic glucocorticoids74 (38.7)55 (33.3)19 (73.1)< 0.001
Intravenous immunoglobulin60 (31.4)50 (30.3)10 (38.5)0.405
Renal replacement therapy1 (0.5)0 (0.0)1 (3.8)0.136
Insulin88 (46.1)75 (45.5)13 (50.0)0.666
Metformin54 (28.3)51 (30.9)3 (11.5)0.041
Sulfonylurea37 (19.4)36 (21.8)1 (3.8)0.031
DPP-4 inhibitor11 (5.8)10 (6.1)1 (3.8)1.000
Acarbose77 (40.3)75 (45.5)2 (7.7)< 0.001
Thiazolidinedione7 (3.7)7 (4.2)0 (0.0)0.596
Oxygen support
Oxygenation115 (60.2)95 (57.6)20 (76.9)0.061
Mechanical ventilation35 (18.3)15 (9.1)20 (76.9)< 0.001
Illness severity
Severe63 (33.0)37 (33.7)26 (100)< 0.001
Complications
ARDS21 (11.0)5 (3.0)16 (61.5)< 0.001
ACI16 (8.4)9 (5.5)7 (26.9)0.001
AKI3 (1.6)1 (0.6)2 (7.7)0.049
Secondary infection22 (11.5)10 (6.1)12 (46.2)< 0.001
Shock3 (1.6)0 (0.0)3 (11.5)0.002
Hypoproteinemia < 30 g/L28 (14.7)22 (13.3)6 (23.1)0.314
Coagulopathy36 (18.8)26 (15.8)10 (38.5)0.013
Length of hospital stay, d16.0 (10.0-25.0)18.0 (11.5-26.0)7.0 (3.0-11.0)< 0.001
ICU admission22 (11.5)11 (6.7)11 (42.3)< 0.001
Duration from admission to ICU, d4.00 ± 3.513.91 ± 3.114.09 ± 4.010.907
Table 6 Laboratory results of diabetic coronavirus disease 2019 patients using metformin or acarbose and matched non-metformin or non-acarbose inhibitor user

Metformin (n = 50)
Matched non-Metformin (n = 50)
Acarbose (n = 46)
Matched non-acarbose (n = 46)
WBC, × 109/L6.33 ± 2.256.27 ± 2.624.83 (4.04-6.68)5.91 (4.42-9.35)c
NEUT, × 109/L4.20 (3.02-5.18)4.17 (3.21-5.87)3.50 (2.48-4.74)4.60 (3.14-8.13)
LY, × 109/L1.20 (0.69-1.74)1.14 (0.82-1.50)1.19 ± 0.551.04 ± 0.53
NLR3.69 (2.11-6.05)3.74 (2.47-5.55)3.25 (2.05-4.41)4.88 (2.50-12.32)d
Hb, g/L126.0 ± 15.7126.5 ± 14.9126.0 ± 16.9129.3 ± 17.3
PLT, × 109/L229.5 ± 93.5208.5 ± 103.8233.0 ± 93.2214.2 ± 99.7
PCT, ng/mL
< 0.543 (100.0)34 (91.9)37 (100.0)34 (87.2)
≥ 0.50 (0.0)3 (8.1)0 (0.0)5 (12.8)
CRP50.7 (5.0-78.0)46.5 (6.3-106.8)26.2 (3.7-52.2)63.8 (10.8-83.4)c
IL-6, pg/mL2.07 (1.50-4.90)3.20 (1.68-67.28)2.58 (1.50-5.06)19.88 (1.95-67.28)
PT, s13.5 ± 2.714.2 ± 2.214.1 ± 2.614.2 ± 3.2
< 1637 (86.0)31 (79.5)30 (78.9)27 (73.0)
≥ 166 (14.0)8 (20.5)8 (21.1)10 (27.0)
D-dimer, mg/L0.45 (0.26-1.19)0.83 (0.33-1.60)0.59 (0.33-0.98)0.96 (0.39-5.40)
≤ 0.522 (52.4)13 (33.3)18 (42.9)12 (33.3)
> 0.5 to ≤ 1.06 (14.3)11 (28.2)15 (35.7)7 (19.4)
> 1.014 (33.3)15 (38.5)9 (21.4)17 (47.2)
ALB, g/L35.7 ± 5.935.8 ± 5.535.7 ± 6.535.1 ± 4.8
ALT, U/L20.0 (13.5-27.5)22.0 (17.0-36.0)20.0 (14.0-31.0)23.00 (14.00-33.25)
AST, U/L25.5 (18.5-33.7)29.0 (20.0-42.0)23.0 (17.5-36.4)31.0 (21.5-39.6)
ALP, U/L51.0 (37.0-71.0)54.0 (44.0-68.0)59.5 24.661.5 25.5
TBIL, mmol/L12.2 ± 5.413.4 ± 16.211.5 ± 4.813.5 ± 5.4
Potassium, mmol/L3.81 ± 0.463.77 ± 0.543.90 ± 0.503.82 ± 0.63
Sodium, mmol/L137.9 ± 3.9138.2 ± 4.1138. 5 ± 3.8138.1 ± 4.7
Chlorine ion, mmol/L103.3 ± 4.5103.4 ± 5.0103.2 ± 4.6103.7 ± 5.3
Calcium, mmol/L2.14 ± 0.222.05 ± 0.18a2.12 ± 0.222.08 ± 0.19
Phosphorus, mmol/L1.02 (0.83-1.21)0.99 (0.87-1.17)1.07( 0.88-1.21)1.00 (0.77-1.21)
BUN,mmol/L4.40 (3.67-4.84)5.20 (3.50-5.75)4.16 (3.60-5.18)5.04 (3.80-6.64)
Creatinine, μmol/L54.0 (49.0-73.7)60.0 (52.5-90.3)59.5 (48.8-74.5)68.0 (55.0-89.3)
UA, μmol/L266.5 ± 96.6260.9 ± 98.7229 (168-263)258 (179-324)
CK, U/L64.0 (49.0-84. 0)82.0 (39.0-135.3)53.5 (35.5-73.8)71.0 (40.0-114.0)
LDH, U/L237 ± 115304 ± 162a229 (185-263)267 (181-446)
Hs-cTnI > ULN , pg/mL0/24 (0.0)3/15 (20.0)1/21 (4.8)2/26 (7.7)
TG, mmol/L1.55 (1.15-1.82)1.32 (1.08-3.40)1.36 (1.05-1.83)1.15 (0.94-1.61)
TCH, mmol/L3.91 ± 0.873.80 ± 0.924.40 ± 1.144.04 ± 0.96
LDL-C, mmol/L2.40 ± 0.732.43 ± 0.782.84 ± 0.872.57 ± 0.83
HDL-C, mmol/L0.93 ± 0.220.88 ± 0.280.98 ± 0.270.93 ± 0.23
FPG, mmol/L10.57 ± 4.928.32 ± 2.47b9.92 ± 4.9010.00 ± 4.26
3.9-6.911 (44.0)13 (38.2)12 (30.8)8 (22.2)
7.0-11.113 (52.0)21 (61.8)13 (33.3)16 (44.4)
≥ 11.11 (4.0)0 (0.0)14 (35.9)12 (33.3)
HbA1C7.96 ± 1.856.71 ± 1.947.85 ± 1.788.25 ± 2.04
Table 7 Treatments and outcomes of diabetic coronavirus disease 2019 patients using metformin and matched non-metformin, acarbose and matched non-acarbose

Metformin (n = 50)
Matched non-Metformin (n = 50)
Acarbose (n = 46)
Matched non-acarbose (n = 46)
Treatments
Antiviral therapy49 (98.0)42 (84.0)a41 (89.1)43 (93.5)
Antibiotic therapy45 (90.0)37 (74.0)a40 (87.0)40 (87.0)
systemic glucocorticoids17 (34.0)16 (32.0)12 (26.1)22 (47.8)e
Intravenous immunoglobulin15 (30.0)11 (22.0)11 (23.9)22 (47.8)e
Renal replacement therapy0 (0.0)1 (2.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Insulin26 (52.0)10 (20.0)b23 (50.0)39 (84.8)g
Metformin50021 (45.7)15 (32.6)
Sulfonylurea18 (36.0)1 (2.0)c17 (37.0)8 (17.4)e
DPP-4 inhibitor3 (6.0)0 (0.0)3 (6.5)3 (6.5)
Acarbose28 (56.0)3 (6.0)c46 (100.0)0 (0.0)
thiazolidinedione6 (12.0)0 (0.0)a4 (8.7)0 (0.0)
Oxygen support
Oxygenation32 (64.0)21 (42.0)30 (65.2)30 (65.2)
Mechanical ventilation6 (12.0)11 (22.0)3 (6.5)10 (21.7)e
Illness severity
Severe14 (28.0)21 (42.0)12 (26.1)18 (39.1)
Complications
ARDS4 (8.0)8 (16.0)1 (2.2)8 (17.4)e
ACI1 (2.0)4 (8.0)2 (4.3)6 (13.0)
AKI0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)2 (4.3)
Secondary infection8 (16.0)5 (10.0)0 (0.0)2 (4.3)
Shock1 (2.0)0 (0.0)1 (2.2)10 (21.7)e
Hypoproteinemia < 30 g/L9 (18.0)5 (10.0)10 (21.7)6 (13.0)
Coagulopathy6 (12.0)9 (18.0)8 (17.4)10 (21.7)
Length of hospital stay, d17.60 ± 8.7416.80 ± 10.5118.37 ± 8.1516.52 ± 9.96
ICU admission6 (12.0)6 (12.0)3 (6.5)8 (17.4)
Duration from admission to ICU, d3.83 ± 2.042.83 ± 2.146.00 (3.50-6.00)2.50 (2.00-5.00)
Prognosis
Discharged47 (94)41 (82)45 (97.8)34 (73.9)f
Death3 (6.0)9 (18)1 (2.2)12 (26.1)
Table 8 Multivariate COX regression analysis on the risk factors associated with mortality of 1331 coronavirus disease 2019 patients
Factor
Hazard ratio
P value
Sex (male)2.59 (1.68-3.99)< 0.001
Age, yr
18-491 (ref)
50-645.86 (2.27-15.12)< 0.001
≥ 6511.8 (4.6- 30.2)< 0.001
Hypertension1.75 (1.18-2.60)0.006
CKD4.55 (2.52-8.20)< 0.001
CVD2.35 (1.27-4.33)0.006
Diabetes0.98 (0.62-1.54)0.918