ISSN 0303-5212
 

Original Research 
RMJ. 2025; 50(2): 295-299


Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients

Mehwish Iftikhar, Ghazala Jawwad, Amna Rizvi, Maleha Asim, Aysha Mushtaq, Amanat Ali.


Abstract
Objective: To compare inflammatory markers between diabetic and non-diabetic COVID-19 patients, correlating them with symptom severity and clinical outcomes for tailored interventions.
Methodology: This multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to January 2022 and included 610 COVID-19 patients from various hospitals of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore. Groups were divided by diabetes status. Data included demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, lab parameters and inflammatory markers. Statistical analyses assessed differences and correlations.
Results: Diabetic patients (group I, n=290) had higher comorbidities and severity. Death rate was significantly higher in diabetics (37.6%) compared to non-diabetics (13.8%). Group I exhibited significantly elevated HbA1c, inflammatory markers (TLC, ferritin, d-dimer, C-reactive protein), and lower pH, SPO2. HbA1c correlated negatively with SpO2 (r= -0.272, p<0.001) and positively with total leukocyte count (TLC) (r=0.289, p<0.001), lymphocyte count (r=0.106, p=0.008), ferritin (r=0.129, p<0.001), CRP (r=0.144, p<0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase level (r= 0.096, p< 0.001). Regression analysis showed that increase in HbA1c (p<0.001, OR=1.73), lymphocyte (p<0.001, OR=1.71), LDH (p=0.005, OR=1.001), CRP (p<0.001, OR=1.01), d-dimer (p=0.009, OR=1.02) increase the likelihood of mortality and decrease SPO2 (p<0.001, OR=0.85) predict high mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion: Diabetic COVID-19 patients demonstrated worse outcomes and higher inflammatory markers, suggesting a potential link between diabetes, inflammation, and disease severity.

Key words: COVID-19, Diabetes mellitus, Inflammatory markers, Ferritin, severity.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Iftikhar M, Jawwad G, Rizvi A, Asim M, Mushtaq A, Ali A. Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. RMJ. 2025; 50(2): 295-299.


Web Style

Iftikhar M, Jawwad G, Rizvi A, Asim M, Mushtaq A, Ali A. Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. https://www.rmj.org.pk/?mno=199061 [Access: May 12, 2025].


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Iftikhar M, Jawwad G, Rizvi A, Asim M, Mushtaq A, Ali A. Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. RMJ. 2025; 50(2): 295-299.



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Iftikhar M, Jawwad G, Rizvi A, Asim M, Mushtaq A, Ali A. Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. RMJ. (2025), [cited May 12, 2025]; 50(2): 295-299.



Harvard Style

Iftikhar, M., Jawwad, . G., Rizvi, . A., Asim, . M., Mushtaq, . A. & Ali, . A. (2025) Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. RMJ, 50 (2), 295-299.



Turabian Style

Iftikhar, Mehwish, Ghazala Jawwad, Amna Rizvi, Maleha Asim, Aysha Mushtaq, and Amanat Ali. 2025. Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. Rawal Medical Journal, 50 (2), 295-299.



Chicago Style

Iftikhar, Mehwish, Ghazala Jawwad, Amna Rizvi, Maleha Asim, Aysha Mushtaq, and Amanat Ali. "Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients." Rawal Medical Journal 50 (2025), 295-299.



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Iftikhar, Mehwish, Ghazala Jawwad, Amna Rizvi, Maleha Asim, Aysha Mushtaq, and Amanat Ali. "Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients." Rawal Medical Journal 50.2 (2025), 295-299. Print.



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Iftikhar, M., Jawwad, . G., Rizvi, . A., Asim, . M., Mushtaq, . A. & Ali, . A. (2025) Exploring inflammatory markers: impact on symptom severity and clinical prognosis in diabetic vs. non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. Rawal Medical Journal, 50 (2), 295-299.