COVID-19 Patients with Both Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease Have Greater Risk of Death

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- COVID-19 patients with both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) showed significantly higher rates of mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and hospitalizations compared to COVID-19 patients with neither T2DM nor CVD. The study, by HealthCore, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim and Anthem, Inc. – soon to be Elevance Health on June 28 -- also found the cost per patient was higher in COVID-19 patients with T2DM and CVD compared to individuals without either disease. The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions 2022 in New Orleans.

“We know that diabetes alone and CVD alone are risk factors for severe COVID-19 and mortality,” said Mark Cziraky, president of HealthCore, Inc., the outcomes research subsidiary of Anthem. “Through this collaboration we were able to quantify the incremental risk among this subset of COVID-19 patients with T2DM and CVD.”

This observational study compared clinical and economic outcomes of COVID-19 patients with and without T2DM and CVD. Researchers used existing claims and lab data from the HealthCore Integrated Research Database (HIRD®) of commercially insured and Medicare patients with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021. Patients were grouped by those having no T2DM or CVD, having T2DM only, and having both T2DM and CVD. The primary outcomes included hospital/ICU admission and mortality following COVID-19 infection. Propensity score matching and multivariable analyses were performed. After matching, 6,967 patients were identified for each group with a mean follow-up of 5.4 months.

A greater percentage of patients with T2DM and CVD had at least one COVID-19-related hospitalization compared to COVID-19 patients without T2DM or CVD (27.7% vs. 17.3%). Patients with T2DM and CVD also had a 26% higher mortality rate, were 59% more likely to be hospitalized, and 74% more likely to be admitted to the ICU after accounting for baseline differences between cohorts. In this analysis, the increased utilization of healthcare resources contributed to higher costs. Researchers found that COVID-19 patients with T2DM and CVD had higher mean COVID-19-related healthcare costs per month after COVID-19 infection compared to COVID-19 patients without either condition ($9,290 vs. $5,498).

The study also showed that COVID-19 patients with T2DM only used the healthcare system more than COVID-19 patients without T2DM or CVD, but not as much as individuals with both conditions. Compared to patients with no T2DM or CVD, patients with T2DM only were 28% more likely to be hospitalized and 32% more likely to be admitted to the ICU after accounting for baseline differences between cohorts. No significant difference was observed between those with COVID-19 with T2DM only and those without T2DM or CVD in terms of survival. In terms of healthcare costs, COVID-19 patients with T2DM had higher mean costs than patients without either T2DM or CVD ($6,091 vs. $5,498).

“The results of this study emphasize the critical need for a more aggressive triage and management approach for people with T2DM and CVD given the significantly higher risk of hospitalization and mortality following COVID-19 infection,” said Mohamed Eid, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.A., vice president, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, Cardio-Metabolism & Respiratory Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “By delivering the right prevention and treatment to the right individual at the right time, we can improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.”

This study is the most recent work coming out of the large-scale research collaboration between Anthem, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, and HealthCore, Inc. to generate real-world evidence to help inform the development of new medicines, standard of care, and interventions.

About the research collaboration

In 2014, Anthem, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, and HealthCore Inc. commenced a research project to identify and address unmet medical needs across populations of mutual interest. The collaboration enables the companies to generate real-world evidence and develop health economic and outcomes data to inform the development and evaluation of new medicines, standard of care, and interventions.

Together, the companies are exploring issues related to appropriate use of existing and new therapies and interventions and the impact these have on clinical and economic outcomes that matter the most to patients.

About HealthCore

HealthCore is finding evidence and truth at the core of healthcare. We work with life sciences companies, government agencies, academia, Anthem, and collaborators on a broad range of research services focused on informing key decision makers. As a wholly owned, independently operating subsidiary of Anthem, Inc., we utilize a powerful research ecosystem of expertise, relationships, and data to generate the evidence needed to improve healthcare.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. Around 52,000 employees serve more than 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.us.

About Anthem, Inc.

Anthem, which will become Elevance Health on June 28, 2022 is a leading health company dedicated to improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler. Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves approximately 118 million people, including nearly 47 million within its family of health plans. Delivering health beyond healthcare, Anthem is expanding from being a partner in health benefits to a lifetime, trusted health partner. For more information, please visit www.antheminc.com or follow @AnthemInc on Twitter.

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