Features of α-HBDH in COVID-19 patients: A cohort study

Haoming Zhu1, Gaojing Qu1, Hui Yu1

  • 1Department of Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Xiangyang No.1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China.

Insights

Alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) levels are elevated in COVID-19 patients, particularly in older individuals and those with severe or critical illness. Higher α-HBDH indicates greater organ damage and increased mortality risk.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Virology

Background:

  • The global impact of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) necessitates understanding its clinical markers.
  • Limited research exists on the specific role of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically analyze the characteristics and clinical significance of α-HBDH in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • To investigate the correlation between α-HBDH levels and disease severity, patient demographics, and outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Extraction of electronic medical records for demographics, clinical manifestations, α-HBDH levels, and outcomes.
  • Comparative analysis of α-HBDH levels between COVID-19 patients and a control group.
  • Statistical analysis to determine associations between α-HBDH and age, clinical type, and prognosis.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly higher α-HBDH levels compared to the excluded group (p < 0.001).
  • Elevated α-HBDH was observed in patients aged ≥61 years, severe, critical, and deceased groups, often showing an initial increase followed by a decrease.
  • α-HBDH levels and age were significant predictors of clinical type (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Increased α-HBDH in COVID-19 patients, especially in older, critical, and deceased individuals, suggests significant organ damage and higher mortality risk.
  • Early-stage differences in α-HBDH between survivors and non-survivors may aid in prognosis assessment.
  • A regression model utilizing α-HBDH demonstrated 85.84% accuracy in distinguishing severe/critical COVID-19 cases.
Abstract