COVID-19 may increase diabetes risk, but vaccination could help

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-02-15 03:00

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A US study of 23,709 patients, all of whom had COVID-19 at least once, found diagnoses of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol were higher in the 90 days following infection with COVID-19 than before people caught the disease. The biggest increase in risk was seen for diabetes, followed by high blood pressure, the scientists say. They also found the risk of diabetes after COVID-19 was higher among unvaccinated people than the vaccinated, although statistical testing suggested the link was not strong. More research is required to confirm both the links between COVID-19 and diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and the benefits of vaccination in preventing their development after COVID-19 infection, the researchers conclude.

Media release

From: JAMA

Association of COVID-19 Vaccination With Risk for New-Onset Diabetes After COVID-19 Infection

About The Study: COVID-19 infection was associated with an increased risk of diabetes, with the results of this study suggesting that this risk persisted as the Omicron variant became predominant. Diabetes risk after COVID-19 infection was higher in unvaccinated than vaccinated patients, suggesting a benefit of vaccination.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Cedars Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, USA

Funder: This work was funded by the Erika J. Glazer Family Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (grant 2020059; Dr Kwan), and NIH grants R01-HL151828 (Dr Cheng), R01-HL131532 (Dr Cheng), and K23-HL153888 (Dr Ebinger).

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