Link Between Diabetic Eye Disease and COVID-19 Risk Discovered

Diabetic eye disease is linked to a five-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19, stated new research.

A new study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice found that individuals with diabetes and eye disease have a five-fold higher risk of requiring intubation when hospitalized with COVID-19.

Diabetic eye disease, a //common complication of diabetes, is caused by damage to the eye's small blood vessels.

Diabetic Retinopathy - Risk Factors - Symptoms - Treatment - Diagnosis - FAQs
The term ‘diabetic retinopathy’ refers to changes in the retina which often occur in people with diabetes.

‘New study has identified the risk associated with diabetic retinopathy and COVID-19.’

Study Details

Researchers investigated 187 people with diabetes (179 with type 2 diabetes and 8 with type 1 diabetes) hospitalized with COVID-19 at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust between 12th of March and 7th of April 2020.

Diabetic retinopathy was reported in 67 (36%) of patients, the majority with background retinopathy.

Coronavirus
Coronaviruses infect animals, humans, and birds. Human coronaviruses, such as SARS, MERS, and 2019-nCoV cause respiratory distress and even death. The S protein is the infectious agent of the virus.

Of the 187 patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, 26% were intubated, and 45% of these patients had retinopathy.

Retinopathy was associated with a five-fold increased risk for intubation.

New Potential Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy
Cellular senescence is a cellular process that occurs in the retinas of people with diabetic retinopathy that leads to scarring and destruction of the retinal blood vessels, and ultimately affecting vision. This discovery could lead to the development of a treatment for this serious complication of diabetes.

32% of patients died, and no link was observed between retinopathy and mortality.

First author of the study, Dr Antonella Corcillo from the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences at King's College London said: "This is the first time that retinopathy has been linked to severe COVID-19 in people with diabetes. Retinopathy is a marker of damage to the blood vessels and our results suggest that such pre-existing damage to blood vessels may result in a more severe COVID-19 infection requiring intensive care treatment."

Potential Treatment for Early Type 2 Diabetic Retinopathy: Study
New study finds that lixisenatide in the retina and the optic nerve head in type 2 diabetes patients may show promise for treating diabetic retinopathy before its clinical manifestation, reports a new study.

Senior author, Dr Janaka Karalliedde from King's College London, said: "We hypothesise that the presence of diabetes related vascular disease such as retinopathy may result in greater vulnerability and susceptibility to respiratory failure in severe COVID-19. Therefore looking for presence or history of retinopathy or other vascular complications of diabetes may help health care professionals identify patients at high risk of severe COVID-19. Further studies are required to investigate the possible mechanisms that explain the links between markers and manifestations of diabetic vascular disease such as retinopathy and severe COVID-19."

Source-Medindia