Poor outcomes have been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); thus, it is mandatory to explore novel therapeutic approaches for this population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a multicenter, case-control, retrospective, observational study, sitagliptin, an oral and highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, was added to standard of care (e.g., insulin administration) at the time of hospitalization in patients with type 2 diabetes who were hospitalized with COVID-19. Every center also recruited at a 1:1 ratio untreated control subjects matched for age and sex. All patients had pneumonia and exhibited oxygen saturation <95% when breathing ambient air or when receiving oxygen support. The primary end points were discharge from the hospital/death and improvement of clinical outcomes, defined as an increase in at least two points on a seven-category modified ordinal scale. Data were collected retrospectively from patients receiving sitagliptin from 1 March through 30 April 2020. RESULTS Of the 338 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 admitted in Northern Italy hospitals included in this study, 169 were on sitagliptin, while 169 were on standard of care. Treatment with sitagliptin at the time of hospitalization was associated with reduced mortality (18% vs. 37% of deceased patients; hazard ratio 0.44 [95% CI 0.29-0.66]; P 5 0.0001), with an improvement in clinical outcomes (60% vs. 38% of improved patients; P 5 0.0001) and with a greater number of hospital discharges (120 vs. 89 of discharged patients; P 5 0.0008) compared with patients receiving standard of care, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this multicenter, case-control, retrospective, observational study of patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the hospital for COVID-19, sitagliptin treatment at the time of hospitalization was associated with reduced mortality and improved clinical outcomes as compared with standard-of-care treatment. The effects of sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 should be confirmed in an ongoing randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Chronic renal disease is accompanied by characteristic abnormalities of lipid metabolism, which appear as a consequence of nephrotic syndrome or renal insufficiency and are reflected in an altered apolipoprotein profile as well as elevated plasma lipid levels. Experimental and clinical studies have suggested a correlation between the progression of renal disease and dyslipidemia. High cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels have been demonstrated to be independent risk factors for progression of renal disease in humans. The underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms for the relationship between lipid levels and progression of renal disease are not yet fully understood, although there are data that oxidative stress and insulin resistance may mediate the lipid-induced renal damage. In the animal model, lipid-lowering agents seem to ameliorate glomerular damage, preventing glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. Although evidence from clinical studies indicates that statin therapy is associated with significant benefit in individuals with established chronic renal failure, whether lipid reduction can slow the renal functional decline awaits a primary renal outcome lipid-lowering therapy study.

During CSII, glucose variability is lower, glycaemic control better and treatment satisfaction higher than during MDI with glargine.

No abstract