Analysis of Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department With High Blood Glucose Level in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Introduction: This study aims to analyze the relationship and effects of sociodemographic characteristic data and clinical, laboratory and other findings of cases who are admitted to the emergency department (ED) with high blood glucose levels during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Method: This is a cross-sectional study in which the demographic data, blood gases, blood count and biochemical variables of adult patients admitted to the ED between 01.01.2020 and 31.05.2021 in a 17-month period were retrospectively screened and analyzed. Results: Infection was detected in 67 (10.5%) of 638 patients with blood glucose level of 300 mg/dl and above. Pneumonia was detected in 56 (8.7%) patients and 203 (31.8%) were hospitalized and 34 (5.3%) died during follow-up. SpO2 was lower (p<0.01), heart rate was higher (p<0.01), systolic blood pressure was lower (p<0.01); in blood gases, pH, HCO3 and CO2 are lower (p<0.01) in the inpatients than outpatients. SpO2 (p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (p<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.02) pH (p<0.01) and HCO3 (p<0.01) were lower; WBC (p<0.01), neutrophil (p<0.01) were higher, hemoglobin was lower (p=0.01), platelet (p=0.02) and CRP levels were higher (p<0.01) in patients who died within the follow-up period than the survivors. Conclusion: Hyperglycemia is a poor prognostic factor in patients hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic period. An increase in LDH values, WBC, neutrophils, and a decrease in lymphocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit values have a negative impact on the outcomes, and clinicians should follow these variables closely.