RNOtherRevista brasileira de enfermagem2025

Factors associated with death in severe patients with COVID-19/diabetes mellitus in Brazil.

Isabella Rodrigues da Silva Batista Lima, Andressa Jhulier Faiola Oliveira, Lívia Maia Pascoal and 5 others

PMID 41417379

WHAT IT FOUND

In severe COVID-19 cases with diabetes, older age, kidney disease, respiratory distress, low oxygen saturation, and ventilatory support were associated with higher death risk, not proof they caused death.

Key findings

01From 3,381,018 reported SARS cases, 484,139 had COVID-19/diabetes and 193,591 died.

02In adjusted analysis, death was associated with age over 60, ventilatory support, ICU admission, chronic kidney disease, respiratory distress, and low oxygen saturation.

03Rural residence, cough, sore throat, and antigen test not performed were reported as protective factors for death.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs

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What it does not show

The study used secondary case reports, so data may be underreported or completed incorrectly. The notification form has an ignored option, which prevents detailed interpretation of missing fields. The data were analyzed at one point in time, so the study shows associations, not cause and effect. Many variables were considered together, so the independent contribution of any single factor is uncertain. Some protective factors may reflect missing data, confounding, or how cases were recorded.

Declared interests

The study reported funding from the Foundation for Support of Research and Scientific and Technological Development of Maranhão and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Brazil. No separate conflict-of-interest disclosure is provided.

The easy way to misread this

Do not read the associations as proof that any of these factors caused death or that changing them will prevent death. The study is cross-sectional secondary data, with possible underreporting and missing fields, and many factors were considered together.

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