People with diabetic retinopathy have a fivefold increased risk of intubation when infected with coronavirus. A new factor that increases the likelihood of complications from COVID-19 is named in an article published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. The study briefly reported in a press release on EurekAlert!.
187 people with diabetes took part in the scientific work, eight of them had type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent). They were all hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 12 to April 7, 2020. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed in 67 patients. 26 percent of the participants were intubated, and about half of them had retinopathy. As a result, retinopathy was associated with a five-fold increased risk of intubation.
Diabetic retinopathy develops in diabetes and is characterized by damage to the small blood vessels of the eye. Among people with type 1 diabetes, the prevalence of retinopathy is 54.6 percent, and with type 2 diabetes – 30 percent.
Retinopathy is a marker of blood vessel damage that contributes to severe COVID-19, including respiratory failure.