COVID-19 outcomes in people with diabetes in Wales: a secondary analysis of the ABCD audit

Authors

  • David M Williams Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea UK https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9206-5837
  • Jim Davies Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UK Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  • Benjamin CT Field Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Redhill, Surrey, UK
  • Rajiv Gandhi Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
  • Sophie Harris Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, King’s College Hospital, UK
  • Kamlesh Khunti University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
  • Dinesh Nagi Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, UK
  • Parth Narendran Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Diabetes Centre, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
  • Rustam Rea Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UK Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
  • Yue Ruan Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UK Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
  • Robert EJ Ryder Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
  • Kinga A Várnai Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UK Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
  • Sarah H Wild Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  • Emma G Wilmot Diabetes Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS FT, Derby, UK University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK 16
  • Thinzar Min Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea UK Department of Diabetes, Neath Port Talbot Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Neath, UK Diabetes Research Group, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
  • Julia Platts Diabetes Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
  • Richard Chudleigh Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea UK
  • Jeffrey W Stephens Diabetes Research Group, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Morriston Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, UK
  • Sam Rice Diabetes Research Group, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. Diabetes Centre, Prince Philip Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Llanelli, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2021.319

Keywords:

COVID-19, diabetes, Wales, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: People with diabetes and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a significantly greater risk of death and/or intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) recently audited outcomes for people hospitalised in the UK with diabetes and COVID-19.

Methods: The ABCD COVID-19 and diabetes audit was a retrospective audit of patients admitted to UK hospitals with diabetes and COVID-19 between March and December 2020. Data related to patients admitted in Wales were compared with patients admitted in England and Scotland.

Results: In Wales, 40/82 (48.7%) patients with diabetes had COVID-19-related mortality compared with 1,149/2,916 (39.1%) in the UK group (p=0.08). The Welsh cohort were more likely to be Caucasian, have a higher body mass index and HbA1c, be diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and prescribed a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor or insulin than those in England and Scotland. Patients admitted to the ICU in Wales were more likely to be male and have type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions: Patients admitted to hospital with diabetes and COVID-19 in Wales had a poorer outcome compared with England and Scotland. This disparity may reflect social inequality, differences in cardiovascular risk factors and/or differences in diabetes medications between hospitalised patients in Wales and the UK.

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Published

2021-12-17

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2021): December 2021

Section

Learning from practice

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