Pandemic effect on national hospitalizations for acute hyperglycemic complications

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to describe the effect of the pandemic on epidemiologic trends and disparities in outcomes for patients hospitalized with acute hyperglycemic complications (AHC). Methods This was a retrospective study of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020. The population included adults hospitalized with AHCs as a principal diagnosis using the Clinical Classifications Software Refined code. Results There was a decrease in the AHC hospitalization rate per 100,000 admissions for type 1 diabetes (T1D) during the pandemic (577 vs 600). However, there was an increase for type 2 diabetes (T2D) (117 vs 125). The mean age during the pandemic versus prepandemic was 34.8 ± 14.1 vs 34.7 ± 14.2 (P = 0.41) and 59.1 ± 14.4 vs 58.8 ± 14.7 (P = 0.51) for T1D and T2D, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in mortality in T1D (0.20 vs 0.23; P = 0.42) or T2D (1.1 vs 0.8; P = 0.09). There was no difference in mortality after stratifying results by gender, race, median household income, or hospital region. During the pandemic, COVID-19 was the principal diagnosis in 5.5% of those with AHC in T1D and 9.1% in those with AHC in T2D. Conclusion The pandemic had a significant impact on the hospitalization rate for both T1D and T2D.