News: Racial minority COVID-19 patients at higher risk of diabetic ketoacidosis

55% of Black patients with both COVID-19 and type 1 diabetes also presented with diabetic ketoacidosis—a serious condition that can lead to coma or death—according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 33% of Hispanic patients out of 180 patients cited in the report also presented with diabetic ketoacidosis, while only 13% of white patients did.

After adjusting for the odds ratio, Black patients were four times more likely to develop ketoacidosis and Hispanic patients were twice as likely than those white patients. Black and Hispanic patients also had a higher than median HbA1c tan white patients.

The study shows the significant inequalities of COVID-19’s affect on different races with the authors noting that social determinants of health such as income and access, or lack thereof, to healthcare as reasons behind the inequalities.

Editor’s note: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published study can be found here. ACDIS coverage on the disparities of COVID-19 in racial minorities can be found here. ACDIS coverage on addressing health disparities with social determinants of health can be found here.