• Noha M Elemam, Haifa Hannawi, SalmiIssa AlIAFrom the Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine (Elemam), University of Sharjah, Sharjah; from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Medicine (Hannawi H, Bin Naeem, Hannawi S); from Mohammed bin Rashid Uni, NaeemKashif BinKBFrom the Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine (Elemam), University of Sharjah, Sharjah; from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Medicine (Hannawi H, Bin Naeem, Hannawi S); from Mohammed bin Rashid , Fahdah Alokaily, and Suad Hannawi.
• From the Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine (Elemam), University of Sharjah, Sharjah; from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Medicine (Hannawi H, Bin Naeem, Hannawi S); from Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Hannawi H), Dubai, United Arab Emirates; from Oman Medical Specialty Board (Issa Al Salmi); from The Royal Hospital (Issa Al Salmi), Muscat, Oman; and from Prince Sultan Military Medical City (Alokaily), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Med J. 2021 Feb 1; 42 (2): 170180170-180.

ObjectivesTo compare risk factors and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients with or without diabetes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsData of 350 COVID-19 positive patients, admitted to Al Kuwait Hospital in Dubai, UAE, from February to May 2020 was collected retrospectively, including demographic data, clinical symptoms, blood tests, as well as radiographical assessments, and clinical outcomes of COVID-19. The design of the study is a retrospective cohort study.ResultsCOVID-19 patients with diabetes belong to an older age group, had a higher percentage of male patients, exhibited more lymphopenia and neutrophilia, and higher ferritin levels. Additionally, patients with diabetes presented fever and shortness of breath (SOB), displayed more bilateral airspace consolidation and opacities in their chest x-ray and CT scans, compared to non-diabetics. A higher percentage of critical, ICU-admitted, and death of COVID-19 cases in the diabetic group was also reported. This was along with a concomitant increase in C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactate dehydrogenase levels.ConclusionsDiabetes is considered a comorbidity as diabetic patients showed more severe COVID-19 symptoms that led to critical clinical outcomes such as ICU admission and death.Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.

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