The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the entire world, and patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have been particularly affected. We aimed to evaluate predictors of mortality during the first 30 days of hospitalization in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and comorbid DM. This prospective study included 110 critically ill patients admitted with COVID-19 infection. Thirty-two (29%) patients had a previous diagnosis of DM. Clinical variables, laboratory tests, and vascular biomarkers, such as VCAM-1, syndecan-1, ICAM-1, angiopoietin-1, and angiopoeitin-2, were evaluated after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. A comparison was made between patients with and without DM. No difference in mortality was observed between the groups (48.7 vs 46.9%, P=0.861). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, VCAM-1 levels at ICU admission (HR: 1 [1-1.001], P<0.006) were associated with death in patients with DM. Among patients with DM, advanced age (HR 1.063 [1.031-1.096], P<0.001), increased Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio (HR: 4.515 [1.803-11.308] P=0.001), and need for dialysis (HR: 3.489 [1.409-8.642], P=0.007) were independent predictors of death. Higher levels of VCAM-1 in patients with DM was better at predicting death of patients with severe COVID-19 and comorbid DM, and their cut-off values were useful for stratifying patients with a worse prognosis. Vascular biomarkers VCAM-1 and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio were predictors of death in patients with severe COVID-19 and comorbid DM and those without DM. Additionally, kidney injury was associated with an increased risk of death.

Background The Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) 3 is a reliable score to predict mortality. This study aims to investigate the predictive values of SAPS 3 and other clinical parameters for death in critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods This is a prospective study in a tertiary hospital for patients who required intensive care due to COVID-19 infection in northeast Brazil. Two distinct groups were constructed according to the epidemiological data: first wave and second wave. The severity of patients admitted was estimated using the SAPS 3 score. Results A total of 767 patients were included: 290 were enrolled in the first wave and 477 in the second wave. Patients in the first wave had more comorbidities, were put on mechanical ventilation and required dialysis and vasopressors more frequently (p&lt;0.05). During the second wave, non-invasive ventilation was more often required (p&lt;0.05). In both periods, older patients and higher SAPS 3 scores on admission were associated with death (p&lt;0.05). Non-invasive ventilation use showed a negative association with death only in the second wave period. In the first wave, the SAPS 3 score was more useful (area under the curve [AUC] 0.897) in predicting death in critically ill COVID-19 patients than in the second wave (AUC 0.810). Conclusion The SAPS 3 showed very reliable predictive values for death during the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly together with kidney and pulmonary dysfunction.

RESUMOObjetivos: avaliar a prevalência de diabetes mellitus em pacientes admitidos em unidade de terapia intensiva que evoluíram para óbito ou que receberam alta, assim como analisar a associação entre níveis de glicemia e o desfecho óbito em diabéticos e não diabéticos. Métodos: estudo caso-controle. População: 198 pacientes adultos admitidos em unidade de terapia intensiva que permaneceram internados por pelo menos setes dias consecutivos. Resultados: a prevalência de diabetes mellitus no subgrupo de unidade (63,6% vs. 16,2%; valor-p < 0,001). Episódios de hiperglicemia foram associados ao desfecho óbito tanto em pacientes com diabetes (OR:3,467; valor-p=0,013), como naqueles que não tinham essa condição (OR:4,148; valor-p=0,001). Hipoglicemia diabéticos (valor-p=0,111). Em ambos os grupos, diabéticos e não diabéticos, os pacientes que evoluíram com óbito apresentaram episódios hiperglicêmicos por maior número de dias do que aqueles que receberam alta (p=0,048 e p<0,001; respectivamente). Conclusão: diabetes mellitus é comum em pacientes graves que evoluem de forma desfavorável. Mas, independente desse diagnóstico, uma maior atenção deve ser dada a pacientes com desregulação da glicemia. Palavras-chave:Glicemia. Diabetes mellitus. Hiperglicemia. Hipoglicemia. Unidades de terapia intensiva. ABSTRACT Objectives:To evaluate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients admitted to the intensive care unit that died or were discharged, and to analyze association between blood glucose levels and death in diabetics and non-diabetics. Methods: Casecontrol study. Population: 198 adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit and that remained hospitalized for at least seven days. Results: the subgroup of those who were discharged from this unit (63.6% vs. 16.2%; p-value <0.001). Episodes of hyperglycemia were associated with outcome death both in patients with diabetes (OR: 3.467; p-value = 0.013), and in those without this condition (OR: 4.148; p-value = 0.001). Hypoglycemia was associated with death in nondiabetic patients (OR: 3.765; p-value = 0.007). However, had hyperglycemic episodes for more days than those who were discharged (p = 0.048 and p <0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is common in critically ill patients who evolve unfavorably. But regardless of the diagnosis, greater attention should be given to patients with deregulation of blood glucose.