SARS-CoV-2 Infection Positively Correlates with Hyperglycemia and Inflammatory Markers in COVID-19 Patients: A Clinical Research Study
Prashanth Chikkahonnaiah,
Siva Dallavalasa,
SubbaRao V. Tulimilli,
Muskan Dubey,
Shashidhar H. Byrappa,
Raghavendra G. Amachawadi,
SubbaRao V. Madhunapantula,
Ravindra P. Veeranna
Affiliations
Prashanth Chikkahonnaiah
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru 570001, Karnataka, India
Siva Dallavalasa
Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR) Laboratory (DST-FIST Supported Centre and ICMR Collaborating Center of Excellence–ICMR-CCoE), Department of Biochemistry (DST-FIST Supported Department), JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru 570015, Karnataka, India
SubbaRao V. Tulimilli
Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR) Laboratory (DST-FIST Supported Centre and ICMR Collaborating Center of Excellence–ICMR-CCoE), Department of Biochemistry (DST-FIST Supported Department), JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru 570015, Karnataka, India
Muskan Dubey
Xavier University School of Medicine, Xavier University School of Veterinary Medicine, Santa Helenastraat #23, Oranjestad, Aruba
Shashidhar H. Byrappa
Department of Pathology, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), Mysuru 570001, Karnataka, India
Raghavendra G. Amachawadi
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
SubbaRao V. Madhunapantula
Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR) Laboratory (DST-FIST Supported Centre and ICMR Collaborating Center of Excellence–ICMR-CCoE), Department of Biochemistry (DST-FIST Supported Department), JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru 570015, Karnataka, India
Ravindra P. Veeranna
Xavier University School of Medicine, Xavier University School of Veterinary Medicine, Santa Helenastraat #23, Oranjestad, Aruba
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common comorbidity in COVID-19 subjects. Hyperglycemia at hospital admission identified as a major risk factor and is responsible for poor prognosis. Hematological and inflammatory parameters have been recognized as predictive markers of severity in COVID-19. In this clinical study, we aimed to assess the impact of hyperglycemia at hospital admission on hematological and several inflammatory parameters in COVID-19 patients. A total of 550 COVID-19 subjects were primarily categorized into two major groups (normoglycemic and hyperglycemic) based on random blood sugar levels. On the first day of hospitalization, subjects’ oxygen saturation, random blood sugar, hematological variables, and inflammatory parameters were recorded. The hyperglycemic group exhibited higher levels of serum ferritin, total leukocyte count (TLC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), neutrophil count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In contrast, oxygen saturation and lymphocyte count were lower compared to the normoglycemic group. Significantly elevated levels of hematological variables (TLC, neutrophil count, NLR) and inflammatory parameters (serum ferritin) were observed in the hyperglycemic group. Among inflammatory parameters, only serum ferritin levels showed statistical significance. This study supports the clinical association between hyperglycemia and an increased severity of COVID-19. Consequently, the identification of these parameters is a crucial and valuable prognostic indicator for assessing disease severity in hyperglycemic subjects.
