Intern Emerg Med. 2025 Nov 3. doi: 10.1007/s11739-025-04168-y. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) poses a significant healthcare burden. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of poor outcomes. This study aims to compare CDI outcomes, including mortality, in patients with and without DM. Retrospective data between (2014-2024) from Clalit Health Services (CHS) electronic database were analyzed. Among 2319 patients with confirmed CDI, 1005 had DM, and 1314 did not. DM patients were significantly older (74.5 ± 12.0 vs. 68.6 ± 20.4 years; p < 0.001), more likely to be male (p = 0.029), and disproportionately represented in lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups (30.1% vs. 22.4%; p < 0.001). Additionally, patients with DM had a significantly higher prevalence of comorbidities, with a median Charlson comorbidity Index (CCI) of 7.5 compared to 4.9 (p < 0.001), along with higher serum creatinine levels and lower albumin levels (p < 0.001). All-cause mortality was significantly higher in the DM group (p < 0.001). Deceased patients were notably older (p < 0.001), more likely male, and had lower SES (27% vs. 25.1%, p = 0.028). Patients with DM and CDI exhibited different comorbidities compared to those without diabetes. DM, advanced age, low SES, and male gender are linked to poorer outcomes, including mortality, among patients with CDI. These findings underscore the need for intensive management in patients with diabetes and CDI.
PMID:41184669 | DOI:10.1007/s11739-025-04168-y
