A Retrospective Study of Association of T2DM with Various Infections, in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Kolkata

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Abstract (English)

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic disorder that significantly increases the risk of infections due to immune dysfunction and other related factors. This study aims to investigate the association between T2DM and various infections in a tropical tertiary teaching hospital in India, focusing on the prevalence, causative organisms, and outcomes of these infections. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted using medical records from January 2020 to December 2023. The study included 130 T2DM patients and 130 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and infection details were extracted and analyzed. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests for prevalence comparison and logistic regression to identify risk factors for infections. Results: The prevalence of infections was significantly higher in T2DM patients compared to non-diabetic controls. UTIs (30.0% vs. 13.8%, p = 0.003), SSTIs (21.5% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.002), and respiratory tract infections (34.6% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.001) were notably more common in T2DM patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed that T2DM (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.54 – 3.30, p = 0.001), higher BMI (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05 – 1.18, p = 0.001), and hypertension (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.11 – 2.52, p = 0.014) were significant risk factors for infections. T2DM patients had longer hospitalization durations (11.2 ± 4.1 days vs. 8.3 ± 3.5 days, p = 0.001) and higher rates of recurrent infections (16.2% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.02). Conclusion: T2DM significantly increases the risk and severity of infections in patients, particularly in tropical regions. Effective diabetes management, infection prevention, and targeted antimicrobial therapies are essential to improve outcomes in this population. Further research should focus on integrated care models and preventive strategies to reduce infection risks in T2DM patients.