Insulin therapy in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review

• Grant number: 21/09662-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Grantee: Caio Fernando Biolcatti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. From December 2019, date of its emergency, until today, the disease has become pandemic and has been responsible for more than 4 million deaths globally. The virus primary target are the human respiratory tract's cells, which are infected through structures located in the viral capsid that bind to human cell structures such as the ACE2 enzyme receptor. In response to the presence of SARS-CoV-2, an intense inflammatory response is triggered, which is directly related to the clinical manifestations of the disease and its main complications and associations to comorbidities. Comorbidities play a prominent role in patients with COVID-19, as they are associated with the most severe forms of the disease, as well as with a higher risk of unfavourable outcomes. Diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent disease in the world and Brazilian populations and represents a comorbidity associated with several complications. Diabetic patients who develop severe infectious conditions are usually treated with intensive insulin therapy. As there is still no full understanding of this relationship, the aim of this study is to investigate, through a systematic review, whether or not insulin should be used in the glycemic management of diabetic patients with COVID-19. (AU)