Nancy Lapid

(Reuters) – The following summarizes recent research on COVID-19. There is some research that needs to be further investigated to verify the results and has yet to receive peer review certification.

COVID-related diabetes could be temporary

New findings suggest that patients with COVID-19 severe may develop diabetes in hospital. However, their blood sugar may recover quickly.

Researchers studied 594 diabetic patients admitted to hospital for COVID-19. Many of those newly diagnosed had more severe COVID-19 than patients who already had diabetes. Researchers reported that 40% of newly diagnosed patients returned to normal blood sugar levels less than a year after they left the hospital. In a statement, Dr. Sara Cromer from the Massachusetts General Hospital said that this suggests that new diabetes might be temporary due to COVID-19 infections.

Cromer noted that the results of insulin deficiency (if ever) are not usually permanent. This patient may not require insulin or any other medication for long periods of time. Therefore, it is important to have their doctors monitor their progress and see if they improve.

Omicron increases COVID-19 disparities in racial representation

The Omicron variant of coronavirus has caused a significant increase in U.S. infection rates. This is in addition to the greater impact it has had on minority populations in this latest case of racial inequality in the pandemic.

The Delta variant of the virus was the dominant one, and about 1 per 1,000 people caught the first time infection in those 2,000 Americans. That compares to 8 to 10 cases per day for Omicron in January, when Omicron had taken over. Omicron has further increased the racial disparities according to Omicron’s Tuesday report on medRxivhttp:// before peer review. Infection rates for Black patients were 1.3-1.4 times greater than those of whites during the Delta period. Omicron made it 3-4 times more. Omicron increased the Delta infection rate from 1.6 to 1.8% in Hispanics to 3x. Omicron infections also affected children. Children under 5 years old were most affected by Omicron infections in January, with 22 cases per 1,000.

This analysis was based upon 733,509 Delta infection cases and 147.964 Omicron cases. Omicron had significantly lower emergency department visits, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions. Omicron also required mechanical ventilation. Hispanics and Blacks had higher emergency department visits, and more intensive care needed. Researchers noted that not all U.S. patients might be represented by the subjects of their study.

Treatments for cancer do not affect COVID-19 survival

According to data from the UK Coronavirus cancer Monitoring Project, powerful treatments for cancer do not increase death risk in patients with COVID-19.

Researchers examined the records of 2,515 patients with COVID-19, who were currently receiving or recently had received systemic cancer treatment such as immunotherapy or chemotherapy. In the week following COVID-19 diagnosis 38% of patients died. The study found that half of the participants were over 72 years old. Patients with blood or lung cancer were more likely to die. However, patients did not have a higher risk of dying from the virus after receiving chemotherapy. A Monday report in JAMA Network Open found that immunotherapy improved survival rates and reduced the patient’s death rate.

Studies of COVID-19 patients in the past have shown that people with cancer experience poorer outcomes. However, this could be due to age, sex and comorbidities as well as cancer subtypes, according to research.

Click here to see a Reuters graphic that discusses vaccines and their development.