The Impact of Metabolic Comorbidities (Diabetes, Hypertension) on the Severity and Progression of Oropharyngeal Infections

Background/Aim: Metabolic comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN), can influence the severity and progression of oropharyngeal infections. This study investigated the impact of these conditions on inflammatory and metabolic markers in patients with severe infections. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with peritonsillar phlegmon, laterocervical/submandibular abscess, and peritonsillar abscess. Metabolic [glycemia, body mass index (BMI)] and inflammatory [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP)] parameters were analyzed based on the presence of comorbidities. Linear regression was employed to identify significant associations between variables. Results: Severe oropharyngeal infections were significantly associated with elevated glycemia (R2=0.961, p