Metformin Improves Overall Survival of COVID 19 Iraqi Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: In this study, we compared the outcome of metformin users and non-users in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with diabetes. Method: Hospitalized diabetic patients with confirmed COVID-19 in the AL-Amal hospital in AL Najaf city/Iraq which is the city that the first case of COVID-19 in Iraq was diagnosed, from May 2020 to August 2020 were grouped into metformin and no-metformin groups according to the diabetic medications used. Results: The characteristics, laboratory parameters, treatments, clinical outcomes in these patients were assessed. A total 300 patients (120 in the metformin and 180 in the no metformin), there were no significant difference between two groups in age, underlying diseases, clinical severity, and oxygen support category at admission. Other laboratory parameters at admission and treatment after admission were not different between two groups. Conclusion: In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the metformin group (2.9%) versus 12.3%. Antidiabetic treatment metformin was associated with decreased mortality compared with diabetic not receiving metformin. This study suggests that metformin may offer benefit in patients with COVID-19 and that further study is indicated. CLINICAL StuDy


Methods
For this clinical study, we recruited the diabetic patients with confirmed Covid-19 discharged or died from

Introduction
The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), caused by sever acute respiratory syndrome. Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread throughout the world. Despite exponential growth in Covid-19 related research, better understanding of this highly contagious and lethal virus is needed. An overall mortality rate over 5% for all patients hospitalized with Covid-19 highlights the urgent The diagnosis procedures of Covid-19 were referred to the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia infected by novel coronavirus issued by the ministry of health of Iraq. Exposure history referred to any form of body contact with confirmed cases within 14 days. Clinical features include symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, CT images with signs like patchy ground -glass opacities and laboratory examination showing decrease in both leukocytes and lymphocytes. The suspected patients with exposure history can be considered as a suspected patient if any two clinical of the clinical features show up but only when an exposure-free patient represents all three clinical features can he/she be suspected. The suspected patients with positive results of any nuclear acid tests or IgM-IgG test will be confirmed with Covid-19.
Patients with body temperature returns to normal for more than 3 days, respiratory symptoms and lung imaging improved significantly and two consecutive negatives for nuclear acid test can be discharged. The clinical severity of patients was graded as mildly ill (clinical symptoms were mild, and no signs of pneumonia found on CT). Moderately ill (clinical features include symptoms like fever and respiratory symptoms, and CT images with signs of pneumonia). Seriously ill (respiratory rates ≥ 30 breaths/minutes, resting oxygen saturation ≤ 94%) and critically ill (respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation, shock or intensive care required.

Results
Three-hundred diabetic patients infected with Covid-19 were enrolled into this study. 120 (metformin group) received metformin alone or with other medications as chronic treatment for their diabetes and the remaining 180 patients (non-metformin group) received one or multiple antidiabetic drugs other than metformin.
Clinical characteristic at the time of admission are shown in Table 1. There are 55 male and 65 female in (metformin group) and 80 male with 100 female in (no metformin group) and the median age in 2 groups about 63 and 65 years respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups in underlying diseases including hypertension, coronary heart diseases, chronic nephrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, there is also no difference in any grade of clinical severity and category of oxygen support between metformin group and no-metformin group at admission.
On admission as shown in Table 2. There was no difference in the white blood counts, lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, serum creatinine level, blood urea level, and c-reactive protein levels between two groups. All patients received antiviral, appropriate supportive therapies, and strict glucose control after admission. Although no significance difference was found in the hospital stays between two groups, the in-hospital mortality in the metformin group is (2.5%) compared with mortality of (12.3) in non-metformin group (Table 3).

Discussion
This is the first study in Iraq to report decreased mortality with metformin use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus hospitalized in AL-Amal hospital/Najaf/ Iraq, for Covid-19. We found that metformin use was associated with significantly lower mortality compared to non-metformin users.
The Covid-19 epidemic that struck china and risk spreading globally has understandably captured attention of much of the world while spreading less fatal than it's close relative SARS, Covid-19 is much more easily spread and like the former capable of causing sever lung pathology and aberrant immune responses that kill 1-3% of the patients and probably cause serious disability in those with severe illness who recover [1].
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the commonest complications developing in patients with Covid-19 [13]. Studies originating from china and Italy reported that individuals with diabetes and infected by Covid-19 showed higher admission rates to hospitals [17], development of sever pneumonia requiring ventilation, as well as higher mortality rates, when compared to those without comorbidities [14,15].
As part of the pathophysiology of diabetes, especially those with uncontrolled glycaemic status, the innate immune system and humoral immunity are compromised against any infection, including SARS-Cov-2 inefficient [18].
Diabetes also causes a proinflammatory state with an exaggerated cytokine response. It has been reported that individuals with diabetes infected by Covid-19 has significantly increased levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein compared to those without diabetes [19].
The entry of the SARS-Cov-2 within the host cell through ACE2 triggers an inflammatory response, recruitment of T-helper cells with production of interferon gamma leading to cytokine storm [22].
Hence, considering the cellular mechanisms triggered by Covid-19 and pathophysiology of diabetes, individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to a cytokine storm with potential organ damage if infected by Co-vid-19.
In this retrospective study, we evaluated the beneficial effects of metformin in Covid-19 patients with diabetes. The data showed that antidiabetic treatment with metformin appears to be associated with a decrease mortality in Covid-19 patients.
Patient on metformin compared to non-metformin users may shed light on the mechanism by which metformin decreases mortality for Covid-19, as metformin has been shown to reduce TNF-α in patient users' metformin [23].
Metformin effect on these cytokines, particularly for TNF-α [25]. Our findings of a strong response to metformin in Covid-19 suggest that TNF-α reduction may be the primary way by which metformin reduced mortality from Covid-19.
Nonetheless, once the virus is inside, there is a downregulation of ACE2 receptors. This intern leads to an imbalance in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system promoting the deleterious effects of its pro-inflammatory and profibrotic arm, further giving rise to the lethal cardiopulmonary complications [26].