COVID-19 and the hidden threat of diabetic microvascular complications

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected at least 200 million individuals worldwide and resulted in nearly 5 million deaths as of October 2021. According to the latest data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021, the diabetes pandemic has affected 537 million people and is associated with 6.7 million deaths. Given the high prevalence of both diabetes and COVID-19 and common pathological outcomes, a bidirectional relationship could have a catastrophic outcome. The increased risk of COVID-19 in those with obesity and diabetes and higher morbidity and mortality has received considerable attention. However, little attention has been given to the relationship between COVID-19 and microvascular complications. Indeed, microvascular complications are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in diabetes. This review assesses the evidence for an association between diabetic microvascular complications (neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy) and COVID-19. It draws parallels between the pathological changes occurring in the microvasculature in both diseases and assesses whether microvascular disease is a prognostic factor for COVID-19 outcomes in diabetes.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic and the diabetes pandemic have both had a significant global impact, and there is a bidirectional relationship between the two that could have catastrophic outcomes. While there has been considerable attention on the increased risk of COVID-19 in individuals with obesity and diabetes, there has been less focus on the relationship between COVID-19 and microvascular complications. This review assesses the evidence for an association between diabetic microvascular complications and COVID-19 and explores whether microvascular disease is a prognostic factor for COVID-19 outcomes in diabetes.