New-onset diabetes mellitus in patients with COVID19 infection admitted to a tertiary care hospital: A single-center experience

Objective: To determine the frequency of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in patients with COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital.

Method: It was a retrospective descriptive study carried out in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan from November 2021 to April 2022. All patients having new onset Diabetes Mellitus (NODM) were identified among a total of 300 patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 infection. Patients' data including relevant investigations were accessed through the hospital management information system (HMIS). SPSS version-23 was used for data entry and statistical analysis.

Results: Out of 300 COVID-19 patients included in the study, 163 (54.3%) were female and 137(45.7%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 56.80±13.72 (IQR 15) years. Frequency of the new onset diabetes was 44(14.7%); 19 (6.33%) male and 25(8.33%) female. Among the 44 NODM patients, the majority (57%) were female (p=0.720). Most (64%) of the patients with new-onset DM were in the middle age (p=0.018).

Conclusion: A significant number of patients with COVID-19 infection are prone to develop new-onset diabetes during their admission to the hospital.