Thread by @zalaly

Can Covid-19 lead to diabetes?

New from our team on risk and burden of diabetes in Long Covid at 1 year

In @TheLancetEndo

@VAResearch @vahsrd @WUSTLpubhealth @WUSTLmed @WUSTLnews @VREFSTL

@Biostayan

A thread 🧵

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In this study of more than 8.5 million people: 181 k with COVID-19 and more than 8 million controls without evidence of infection

We show increased risk of new onset diabetes at 1 year

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The risk was evident even among people who did not need hospitalization during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection — this group represents most people with COVID-19

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The risk of diabetes was also evident even in people who had no risk factors for developing diabetes before they got COVID-19

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2 out of 100 persons with COVID-19 developed new onset diabetes as a result of COVID-19

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Given the large number of people with COVID-19, these absolute numbers might translate into substantial population-level burden and could further strain already overwhelmed health systems

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Governments and health systems around the world should be prepared to screen and manage diabetes in people who had COVID-19.

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And diabetes should be considered as a facet of the multifaceted Long COVID syndrome.

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To place this in larger context:

The long-term consequences of COVID-19 include increased risk of:

Heart disease nature.com/articles/s4159…

Kidney disease jasn.asnjournals.org/content/32/11/…

and now diabetes thelancet.com/journals/landi…

Clearly SARS-CoV-2 drives development of cardiometabolic disease

Heart disease nature.com/articles/s4159…

Kidney disease jasn.asnjournals.org/content/32/11/…

Diabetes thelancet.com/journals/landi…

These are chronic diseases that last a lifetime – they can affect quality of life, lead to downstream health problems and reduce life expectancy

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The absolute numbers may look small (1-4%), but they translate into millions of affected people in the US and many more around the world.

This will cause a rise in the burden of cardiometabolic disease globally

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International bodies, national governments, and health systems must develop and implement strategies for early identification and treatment of affected individuals.

Millions of lives depend on this.

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Thanks to the amazing first author @Biostayan, our funders @VAResearch @vahsrd , our Editors and Reviewers.

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Thanks to the #LongCovid community!

You inspired us and continue to inspire everyday.

Thank you!

#LongCovidisfact

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