Top stories in endocrinology: Glucocorticoid use increases COVID-19 complication risks, potential role of drones in insulin delivery

Adults prescribed glucocorticoid therapy are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19, according to an editorial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It was the top story in endocrinology last week.

Another top story was about the world’s first drone delivery of insulin for a patient with diabetes in a remote location in Ireland. Researchers said the test flight may serve as a useful model for health care delivery in the future.

Read these and more top stories in endocrinology below:

Endocrinologists warn of increased COVID-19 complication risks with glucocorticoid use

Adults who are prescribed glucocorticoid therapy for common conditions, such as asthma, allergies and arthritis, as well as individuals with adrenal insufficiency, are at high risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 due to an inability to mount a normal stress response, according to an editorial published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Read more.

World’s first drone delivery of insulin may be useful model in pandemic response

A successful drone delivery of insulin for a person with diabetes in a remote location in Ireland may serve as a useful model for health care delivery during a future pandemic response, according to data presented at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting. Read more.

DAPA-CKD trial stopped early after ‘overwhelming benefit’ observed with dapagliflozin

The phase 3 DAPA-CKD trial assessing the benefit of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in adults with chronic kidney disease will be stopped early after investigators reported an “overwhelming benefit” for reduction in worsening renal function or renal death compared with placebo, according to a press release from AstraZeneca. Read more.

Eyelid selfies can warn of elevated glucose levels with dry eye

With the use of infrared images of the inside of the lower eyelids, researchers determined that higher glucose levels are associated with loss of meibomian glands that are crucial for tear film production, according to study results accepted for presentation at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting and delivered in a virtual press conference. Read more.

Real-world data on artificial pancreas show time-in-range benefit

More than 100,000 children and adults with type 1 diabetes using a hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system maintained a blood glucose level in the recommended range 71.3% of the time and experienced an improvement in time in range when using the device in automode, according to a real-world analysis accepted for presentation at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting. Read more.