Diabetes was undoubtedly the most significant risk factor for mucormycosis that affected COVID patients during the second wave. Now an interim analysis of a case control study of mucormycosis has shown that new onset diabetes was a more significant risk factor compared to pre-existing diabetes.

The study, conducted at Sterling Hospital after the second wave, included 300 patients, 234 COVID-19 patients and 64 mucormycosis patients with history of COVID-19 infection. It was done to determine the risk factors for mucormycosis in patients with COVID.

According to the interim analysis, patients with their diabetes uncovered during COVID-19 illness were found to have a significantly higher likelihood of developing mucormycosis, compared to patients who had a known history of diabetes, revealed infectious diseases specialist Dr Atul Patel. 

According to experts, around 25% of the COVID-19 patients were detected with new onset diabetes in the state. This encompasses COVID-19 induced diabetes fuelled by pancreatic inflammation, steroid treatment, stress, or unknown diabetes identified during pandemic illness.

Dr Patel noted that steroids, tocilizumab and oxygen were not significant risk factors. He added that the probability value of new onset diabetes for black fungus was <0.001 while that of diabetes was <0.156. Lower probability value translates to higher risk factor. 

Dr Patel said that new onset diabetes in COVID-19 as a risk factor will now be evaluated in 1,000 MM patients at 29 centers across the country in order to guide prevention, intervention and treatment for future cases.

Dr Bela Prajapati, professor and head of the ENT department at Civil Hospital, stated that among 819 mucormycosis patients treated over the past two months, 192 (23%) had no prior history of diabetes and they acquired blood sugar after COVID-19 infection.

At Sola Civil Hospital, the proportion of such patients was around 25-30%, stated Dr Neena Bhalodia, head of the ENT department. 

Dr Neeraj Suri, an ENT surgeon at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, said that not all patients who were found to have diabetes after COVID-19 infection developed mucormycosis. However, the presence of blood sugar definitely played a huge role in the prevalence of fungal infection.

Dr Rajesh Vishwakarma, an ENT surgeon, revealed that not all patients of mucormycosis had diabetes only after COVID-19 infection. He added that there is a possibility that the patients had borderline diabetes which got exacerbated due to COVID-19.

Source: ET Healthworld