We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Lymphocyte Count Correlated to Comorbid Diabetes and COVID-19

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 Sep 2020
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that erupted in China since December 2019 and has gradually spread throughout the world. More...
At present, it has caused tens of thousands of deaths, and the efficacy of certain antiviral drugs is still under review.

Patients with diabetes are more prone to disease progression than those without diabetes; however the mechanism is not yet clear. Depending on the region, 20% to 50% of patients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic had diabetes. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a reduction in the lymphocyte count of COVID-19 patients.

Medical scientists at the Nanjing Medical University (Wuxi, China) included in a study 63 adult patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to the hospital from January 29 to March 15, 2020. Patients were classified as having diabetes (n=16) or not having diabetes (n=47). Lymphocytes measured and recorded at admission and during treatment were analyzed and compared between groups. Other outcomes assessed in this study included the number of hospitalization days, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid positive days, and minimal lymphocyte count.

Data pertaining to gender, age, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were obtained at the time of admission. Data on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (Cr), and fasting glucose were obtained the next morning after admission. White blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Lymphocytes were measured at admission and during treatment.

The scientists reported that at time of admission, patients with diabetes had a significantly higher maximal C-reactive protein (91.75 mg/L versus 17.0 mg/L) and fasting glucose (8.81 ± 2.42 mmol/L [158.74 ± 43.6 mg/dL] versus 6.01 ± 1.89 mmol/L [108.3 ± 34.1 mg/dL]). A lower minimal lymphocyte count was observed in patients with diabetes versus without diabetes (0.67 ± 0.36 ×109/L versus 1.30 ± 0.54×109/L, respectively). Additionally, the investigators found that the minimal lymphocyte count occurred significantly earlier in patients with diabetes compared with the non-diabetes group (2.68 ± 2.33 days versus 5.29 ± 4.95 days, respectively). Patients with diabetes and COVID-19 also had longer hospital stays (20.44 ± 5.24 days versus 17.11 ± 4.78 days). A negative correlation was found between the minimal lymphocyte count and both hospital days and SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positive days.

The authors concluded that COVID-19 patients with T2DM experience a faster decline in lymphocyte count, have lower lymphocyte count, and longer hospital stay than non-diabetic patients. The lower the lymphocyte count, the longer the hospitalization time and viral nucleic acid positive days. The study was published on August 1, 2020 in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.


Related Links:
Nanjing Medical University


Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
6 Part Hematology Analyzer with RET + IPF
Mispa HX 88
New
8-Channel Pipette
SAPPHIRE 20–300 µL
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The ONC IN-CYT platform leverages cross indication biomarker cyto-signatures (Photo courtesy of OraLiva)

AI-Powered Cytology Tool Detects Early Signs of Oral Cancer

Each year, 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer, yet only 28% of cases are identified at an early stage, when the five-year survival rate exceeds 85%. Most diagnoses occur in later stages, when... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: PD-1 protein blockade is the standard treatment for advanced melanoma among the different types of immunotherapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Precision Tool Predicts Immunotherapy Treatment Failure in Melanoma Patients

Melanoma, though accounting for only about 4% of skin tumors, is the deadliest form of skin cancer due to its high potential to metastasize. While immunotherapy, especially PD-1 protein blockade, has revolutionized... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel method to analyze tumor growth rates (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Novel Method To Analyze Tumor Growth Rates Helps Tracks Progression Between Diagnosis and Surgery

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer often worry about how quickly their tumors grow while they wait for surgery, and whether delays in treatment might allow the disease to spread beyond the point of cure.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.