Exploring the Correlation between Cycle Threshold value of Coronavirus and Paraclinical Characteristics of Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19

Background and objectives: Coronavirus disease is the pandemic of the current era, affecting many patients worldwide. Underlying diseases may predispose the individual to infection, exacerbate the disease condition, or increase the risk of mortality and morbidity. Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent disease and diabetic nephropathy is a common and important vascular complication of diabetes. Evidence showed the association of diabetic glomerulopathy with COVID-19 viral infection. The present study investigated coronavirus gene expression in patients with diabetic nephropathy and its association with baseline variables.

Materials and methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy and COVID-19 were enrolled. To determine their COVID-19 status, we administered real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. Based on the resulting viral load (high or low), we compared demographic factors such as age, gender, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), and duration of disease, as well as blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, protein urea, Hemoglobin (Hb)A1c, and creatinine. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.24.

Results: The study showed based on Mann-Whitney results that patient aged 50 or above had higher viral loads than younger patients (p-value=0.0324), and also, the means HbA1c levels were higher in the high viral loads group and statistically were significant (p-value=0.029). The linear regression model also confirmed a significant correlation between gene expression and age(r= -0.401; p-value = 0.001), HbA1c percentages (r=-0.364; p-value=0.04), and BMI (r=0.259; P=0.046). However, the study did not establish any association between gene expression and other variables. Conclusion: The study found a notable correlation between the viral loads of patients with diabetic nephropathy and specific baseline features, including age, BMI, and Hemoglobin A1c levels. Therefore, it is important to monitor these subgroups of patients with diabetic nephropathy closely.