This systematic review and meta analysis shows that diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with mortality, severity, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 and that this association is greater in studies with younger and less hypertensive patients.

The authors examine 6452 patients from 30 studies. Meta-analysis showed that DM was associated with composite poor outcome (RR 2.38 [1.88, 3.03]), including mortality (RR 2.12 [1.44, 3.11]), severe COVID-19 (RR 2.45 [1.79, 3.35]), ARDS (RR 4.64 [1.86, 11.58]), and disease progression (RR 3.31 [1.08, 10.14]). This association was weaker in studies with median age ≥55 years-old (RR 1.92) compared to <55 years-old (RR 3.48), and in prevalence of hypertension ≥25% (RR 1.93) compared to <25% (RR 3.06). Subgroup analysis on median age <55 years-old and prevalence of hypertension <25% showed strong association (RR 3.33) CONCLUSION: DM was associated with mortality, severe COVID-19, ARDS, and disease progression in patients with COVID-19.