Incidence of diabetes mellitus following hospitalisation for COVID‐19 in the United Kingdom: A prospective observational study
2025

Diabetes After COVID-19 Hospitalization in the UK

Sample size: 1426 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Freya Tyrer, Safoora Gharibzadeh, Clare Gillies, Claire Lawson, Ash Routen, Nazrul Islam, Cameron Razieh, Francesco Zaccardi, Tom Yates, Melanie J. Davies

Primary Institution: University of Leicester

Hypothesis

Is the incidence of diabetes higher in individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic levels?

Conclusion

Diabetes incidence following hospitalization for COVID-19 is high, but it remains uncertain whether it is disproportionately higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Supporting Evidence

  • Diabetes incidence was 91.4 per 1000 person-years.
  • South Asian individuals had an incidence rate ratio of 3.60 for diabetes compared to White individuals.
  • Black individuals had an incidence rate ratio of 2.36 for diabetes compared to White individuals.

Takeaway

People who were hospitalized for COVID-19 might get diabetes more often than those who weren't, but we don't know if it's more than before the pandemic.

Methodology

The study analyzed a multicentre prospective cohort of individuals discharged from NHS hospitals after COVID-19, measuring HbA1c levels to determine new-onset diabetes.

Potential Biases

Self-reported diabetes status and potential confounding factors may introduce bias.

Limitations

The study may not represent all COVID-19 patients as it included only those who survived hospitalization and returned for follow-up.

Participant Demographics

Mean age was 57.5 years, with 59% male, 77% white, 7% South Asian, and 6% Black.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

[95% CI: 75.1, 111.2]

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/dom.16071

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