The gastrointestinal tract is colonized by trillions of microorganisms, consisting of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, known as the “second gene pool” of the human body. In recent years, the microbiota‐gut‐bone axis has attracted increasing attention in the field of skeletal health/disorders. The involvement of gut microbial dysbiosis in multiple bone disorders has been recognized. The gut microbiota regulates skeletal homeostasis through its effects on host metabolism, immune function, and hormonal secretion. Owing to the essential role of the gut microbiota in skeletal homeostasis, novel gut microbiota‐targeting therapeutics, such as probiotics and prebiotics, have been proven effective in preventing bone loss. However, more well‐controlled clinical trials are still needed to evaluate the long‐term efficacy and safety of these ecologic modulators in the treatment of bone disorders.

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Hyperglycemia commonly occurs in severe cases with COVID‐19. In this study, we explored the associations between admission fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 28‐day mortality in COVID‐19 patients. In this single centre retrospective study, 263 adult patients with COVID‐19 were included. Demographic and clinical information were collected and compared between patients with and without diabetes. Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors of 28‐day mortality in hospitals. Of 263 patients, 161 (61.2%) were male, 62 (25.6%) had a known history of diabetes, and 135 (51.3%) experienced elevated FPG (>7.0 mmol/L) at hospital admission. The median FPG in patients with diabetes was much higher than in patients without diabetes (12.79 vs. 6.47 mmol/L). Patients with diabetes had higher neutrophil count and D‐dimer, less lymphocyte count, lower albumin level, and more fatal complications. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that age (per 10‐year increase) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–1.74), admission FPG between 7.0 and 11.0 and ≥11.1 mmol/L (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.11–3.25 and HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.21–3.64, respectively), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.31–6.39), and cardiac injury (HR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.33–3.47) were independent predictors of 28‐day mortality in COVID‐19 patients. Hyperglycemia on admission predicted worse outcome in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19. Intensive monitoring and optimal glycemic control may improve the prognosis of COVID‐19 patients.