Glycemia control and choice of antihyperglycemic therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and COVID-19: a consensus decision of the board of experts of the Russian association of endocrinologists

[Features of the course of COVID-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus]

AIM

To identify the features of the course of COVID-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), depending on the intake of hypoglycemic therapy at the prehospital stage, in conjunction with the functional state of the kidneys.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 291 case histories of patients with COVID-19 and T2DM hospitalized in the infection department of Semashko Regional Clinical Hospital from January to December 2021, including the main clinical and laboratory parameters. Results. Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, patients with T2DM had a higher mortality rate. An analysis of the case histories of deceased patients with COVID-19 and T2DM showed that at admission, body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein, and creatinine were higher than those of survivors and amounted to BMI - 33 [30; 39] and 33 [28; 36] kg/m3; p=0.039, C-reactive protein - 77 [47.5; 106.0] and 57 [27.0; 89.0] mg/l; p=0.015, in terms of creatinine level - 89 [70.0; 144.0] and 82 [66.0; 101.0] µmol/l; p=0.039, respectively. It was found that in the second week of hospitalization in the group of deceased patients with COVID-19 and T2DM, the creatinine level was statistically significantly higher than in surviving patients and amounted to 94.5 [71.5; 141.0] and 72.5 [57.0; 88.0] µmol/L; p<0.001, respectively. The probability of death in hospitalized patients with type 2 COVID-19 and T2DM depended on BMI and creatinine levels at the second week of hospitalization. Patients with prehospital correction of hyperglycemia dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (iDPP-4)/ glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (agGLP-1)/ sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (iSGLT-2) had significantly lower creatinine levels at week 2 of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

In patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 with concomitant T2DM, special attention should be paid to the combination of high BMI and creatinine in the second week of hospitalization, which is a prognostically unfavorable predictor of death in such patients.

Metformin as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase. Known and new mechanisms of action

Metformin, known in the medical community as the drug of first choice for type 2 diabetes mellitus, belongs to the group of biguanides and has proven to be an effective treatment in clinical practice. Our knowledge of the pharmacodynamic properties of metformin has long been limited to the following well-known mechanisms: a decrease in hyperglycemia due to an increase in peripheral insulin sensitivity, glucose utilization by cells, inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, an increase in the capacity of all types of membrane glucose transporters, activation of fibrinolysis, and a decrease in the levels of atherogenic lipoproteins. Recent studies show that the range of positive pleiotropic effects of metformin is not limited to the above, and that the molecular mechanisms of its action are more complex than previously thought. This article presents a less known, but equally important action of metformin, in particular, its anti-oncogenic, antiviral, and anti-aging effects. In our study, we highlight that the activation of 5’-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) should be considered as the primary mechanism of action through which almost all beneficial effects are achieved. In the light of recent scientific advances in metformin pharmacology, together with the pathogenetic uncertainty of the term «biguanide», it seems fair and reasonable to apply a more relevant definition to the drugn, namely «AMPK activator».

[The impact of carbohydrate metabolism disorders on the early and long-term clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 according to the AKTIV and AKTIV 2 registries]

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies indicate a high incidence of various disorders of carbohydrate metabolism against the new coronavirus infection. These disorders aggravate the course of infection and increase mortality. Thereby, analysis of risk factors for unfavorable outcomes and assessment of the long-term consequences of COVID-19 in patients with impaired carbohydrate metabolism is of great importance.

AIM

To investigate the association between carbohydrate metabolism disorders in COVID-19 patients and mortality, course of infection, long-term consequences, as well as to identify risk factors for an unfavorable disease course.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of data from the combined multicenter non-interventional real-world AKTIV and AKTIV 2 registries was performed. The sample included 9290 patients who had COVID-19 with varying severity from June 29, 2020, to November 29, 2020 (AKTIV) and from October 01, 2020, to March 30, 2021 (AKTIV 2). The patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 - patients with intact carbohydrate metabolism, n=6606; Group 2 - patients with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia (NDH), n=1073; Group 3 - patients with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), n=1611. The groups were assessed for clinical and laboratory parameters, comorbidities, mortality, carbohydrate metabolic status, and well-being during the infection and at 12 months.

RESULTS

The prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMD) was 28,9%, with DM2 patients accounting for 17,3% and patients with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia (NDH) for 11,6%. The mortality rate of patients with hyperglycemia of any origin was 10.6%, which was significantly higher compared to patients without hyperglycemia (3,9%). The probability of lethal outcome increased 2,48-fold in the group of patients with DM2 and 2,04-fold in the group of patients with NDH. At the same time, the probability of a lethal outcome decreased 2,94-fold in patients without CMD. At 12 months, patients with CMD showed a significantly higher frequency and longer persistence of complaints. This trend was more pronounced in patients with DM2 than in those with NDH. Only 1,7% of patients from the NDH group had type 2 diabetes and were receiving oral hypoglycemic medications one year after the infection. A prognostic model was developed to determine the risk of lethal outcome. The model included such known predictors as concomitant ischemic heart disease, history of myocardial infarction or stroke, blood glucose level, and age.

CONCLUSION

Carbohydrate metabolism disorders aggravate the course of COVID-19 and increase mortality. One year after infection, patients with DM2 and NDH were more likely to have symptoms typical for post-COVID syndrome, and NDH resolved in most cases after the infection.

Analysis of risk factors for COVID-19-related fatal outcome in 337991 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in 2020–2022 years: Russian nationwide retrospective study

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic has had an extremely negative impact on the patients with diabetes mellitus (DM both in terms of a more severe course of COVID -19 and an increased risk of death.

AIM: Analysis of risk factors for death due to COVID -19 in patients with DM type 1 and type 2 (DM1 and DM2).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the database of the national diabetes register (NDR), which included DM patients with COVID-19 and reported virus infection outcome (recovery/or death) in 15 712 DM1 and 322 279 DM2 patients during a 2-year follow-up period (01/02/2020 to 03/04/2022) (discharge date)).

RESULTS: Case fatality rate in patients with DM, who underwent COVID -19 was 17.1% (DM1–8.8%; DM2–17.5%). As a result of multivariate regression analysis of seven significant factors in DM1 and thirteen in DM2 (evaluated by univariate anlisys), a number of the most important predictors of risk for fatal outcome were identified: in DM1 these were age ≥65 years (OR =4.01, 95% CI: 1.42–11.36), presence of arterial hypertension (AH) (OR =2.72, 95% CI: 1.03 -7.16) and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) (OR = 7.22, 95% CI: 1.98–26.29); for T2DM: age ≥ 65 years (OR =2.53, 95% CI: 1.96–3.27), male (OR =1.51, 95% CI: 1.23–1.84), duration DM ≥10 years (OR =2.01, 95% CI: 1.61–2.51), BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (OR =1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.55), ASCVD/CKD (OR =1.49, 95% CI: 1.01–2.04), history of diabetic coma (OR =12.97, 95% CI: 1.89–88.99) and presence of disability ( OR =1.40, 95% CI: 1.14–1.73). In T2DM, the type of antidiabetic therapy (ADT) prior to COVID -19 (last visit before the development of infection) had a significant impact: Insulin therapy (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.30–2.07), sulfonylureas (SU) (OR =1.51, 95% CI: 1.23–1.84)); dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (iDPP-4) therapy (OR =0.57, 95% CI: 0.39–0.83) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (iSGLT2) therapy (OR =0.64, 95% CI: 0.46–0.88). Vaccination was the most important protective factor in both types of DM: DM1 OR =0.19, 95% CI: 0.06–0.59; SD2 OR =0.20, 95% CI: 0.16–0.26.

CONCLUSION: The common risk factor for fatal outcome in both DM1 and DM2 was age ≥65 years; in DM1 — history of hypertension and DFS, in DM2 — male sex, diabetes duration ≥10 years, BMI ≥30 kg/m2, history of ASCVD/CKD and diabetic coma, disability. In T2DM, significant differences in risk were observed depending on the type of ADT: insulin and SU therapy were factors that increased the risk of death, whereas therapy with iDPP-4 and iSGLT2 reduced the risk of death. Vaccination reduced the risk of death in DM1 and DM2 by 5.2 and 5-fold, respectively.

Сarbohydrate metabolism disorders and their outcomes in the long-term period in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a predisposing factor for the development of many infectious complications. Numerous studies have demonstrated the association of hyperglycemia in patients having DM with a high risk of a more unfavorable course of COVID-19. However, hyperglycemia is often detected in patients with a COVID-19 not having anamnesis of DM. The following remains unclear: the etiological factors causing such disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, the persistence of these disorders and the characteristics of the course, as well as their comparative effect on the outcomes of COVID-19 and the further prognosis of patients.

AIM: To study the prevalence and nature of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in patients with moderate to severe course of COVID-19, as well as 6 months after it.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 of moderate and severe course of the disease were examined. There were no medical interventions outside recommendations of patient management. The observation was carried out during two time periods: inpatient treatment of a COVID-19 and 6 months after discharge. The following were evaluated: anamnesis data, the level of fasting plasma glucose; HbA1c, the results of computed tomography of the lungs, the drug therapy taken in all patients. Descriptive statistics methods were used to evaluate the parameters.

RESULTS: The study included 280 patients with a median age of 61.5±14,2 years. During the disease, a violation of  carbohydrate metabolism was detected in 188 people (67%), the remaining patients (33%) made up the normoglycemia group. Patients with hyperglycemia were stratified in a following way: a group with an established diagnosis of DM before COVID -19 included — 56 people (20%), a group with steroid-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) — 95 people (34%), a group of stress- induced hyperglycaemia — 20 people (7%), with undiagnosed diabetes — 17 people (6%). In the postcovid period (after 6 months), the normal level of glycemia in the same sample group was observed in 199 people (71.4%); 8 people (3%) were diagnosed with new cases of DM. The mortality rate was 10 people (3.6%) in the group of SIH (8 people) and undiagnosed DM (2 people).

CONCLUSION: The use of glucocorticoids in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 leads to high incidence of SIH, which has reversible character. About 6% among hospitalized patients with a COVID-19 had undiagnosed DM and were not receiving antihyperglycemic therapy. The highest mortality was noted in the group of SIH, which allows us to conclude that SIH worsens the prognosis of patients to the greatest extent. Patients with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia, regardless of the level of hyperglycemia, are characterized by a more unfavorable course.

DEVELOPMENT OF MICROCAPSULES BASED ON COMBINED ANTIDIABETIC SUBSTANCE: PHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The comparative assessment results of the hypoglycemic activity of a combined preparation containing microcapsules with a phytocomposition consisting of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extracts, a dry extract of Galega officinalis L., Mentha piperita L., and gliclazide, are discussed in the article. Methods for obtaining microcapsules with an original PEG-6000 shell are described.

The aim of the study was to develop an optimal technology for obtaining microcapsules with a PEG-6000 shell containing a combined antidiabetic substance, and conduct its detailed pharmacological study on the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, to conduct a detailed comparative pharmacological study of a microencapsulated antidiabetic composition with a shell based on PEG-6000, including gliclazide and a sum of phytoextracts on the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and methods. As the main objects of the study, microcapsules with a PEG-6000 shell were obtained using methyl miristate as the base liquid. The capsules contained the amount of plant extracts in their composition: a dry extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L., a dry extract of Galega officinalis L., a dry extract of Mentha piperita L., and gliclazide. The study of a hypoglycemic activity was carried out after a single administration of drugs to the animals with alloxan-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. The cumulative effect assessment of the drugs was carried out within 14 days with a test for the resistance to oral glucose on days 7 and 14.

Results. Microcapsules with the original shell were obtained by dispersion in a liquid-liquid system with the adjustment of some technological stages. The effect of the drugs under study on the glycemic profile in the rats with an experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus was investigated. A comparative evaluation of the pharmacological effect was carried out with a separate and combined use of microencapsulated preparations.

Conclusion. The rationality of combining phytocomponents and a synthetic antidiabetic agent in microcapsules has been proven. The obtained results testify to the rationality of plant extracts combination and a synthetic hypoglycemic agent – gliclazide in microcapsules.