"The presence of diabetic complications and increased age increase the risk of death," the researchers said in a statement. "Increased BMI" -- body mass index, a ratio of height to weight -- "is associated with both increased risk of needing mechanical ventilation and with increased risk of death," they said. BLOOD SUGARWorse blood sugar control in and of itself, however, did not seem to impact a patient's outcome. The presence of either type of complication doubled the risk of death by the seventh day of hospitalisation. By the seventh day of hospitalisation, a fifth of patients had been intubated on ventilators, and a tenth had died.

Source: Daily Nation May 28, 2020 22:07 UTC