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Analysis of occurrences and causes of abnormal liver function in 109 patients with COVID-19
Man-Ling Deng1, Fu Min2, Jing-Lin Peng3,4
1Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan Province, China.
Insights
This study found that male sex, pre-existing conditions, antiviral drugs, and severe COVID-19 illness are linked to abnormal liver function in patients. Understanding these factors is key for managing liver health during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- COVID-19, a novel coronavirus pneumonia, is associated with abnormal liver function.
- Investigating the occurrences and causes of abnormal liver function in COVID-19 patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between various factors and abnormal liver function in COVID-19 patients.
- To analyze the causes contributing to abnormal liver function in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted on 109 COVID-19 patients admitted in 2020.
- Data collected included gender, age, comorbidities, antiviral treatment, and disease classification.
- The association between these variables and abnormal liver function was analyzed.
Main Results:
- 42.20% of patients exhibited abnormal liver function upon admission.
- Higher rates of abnormal liver function were observed in males, younger patients (<21 years), those with basic diseases, and severe/critical COVID-19 types.
- Antiviral treatment showed transient increases in certain liver enzymes (γ-GT) but improved ALT and AST levels by discharge.
Conclusions:
- Male sex, presence of basic diseases, use of antiviral drugs, and severe/critical COVID-19 classification are significant risk factors for abnormal liver function.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring liver function in specific COVID-19 patient groups.
Context:
COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus pneumonia, which is related to abnormal liver function. Thus, it is important to explore the occurrences and causes of abnormal liver function with COVID-19.
Methods:
We chose 109 patients with COVID-19 in 2020 and studied the relationship between gender, age, basic diseases, antiviral drug treatment, disease classification, and abnormal liver function, and analyzed the causes of abnormal liver function in patients with COVID-19.
Results:
Among patients, 46 (42.20%) had abnormal liver function at admission; 37 (80.43%) had mild abnormal liver function; and 9 (19.57%) had severe liver function. Compared with other age groups, the abnormal rate of serum ALP in the group younger than 21 years old were the highest (P < 0.05). The abnormal rates and concentrations of serum ALT, AST and γ-GT in the male groups were higher than in female groups (P < 0.05), basic disease group were higher than those in the non-basic disease group (P < 0.05). Serum γ-GT concentration after 1 week of antiviral treatment was higher than that before treatment (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of ALT and AST at discharge was lower than that after antiviral treatment for 1 week (P < 0.05). Serum TB and AST concentrations at discharge were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). Serum AST and γ-GT concentrations in severe/critical type group were higher than those in mild or ordinary type group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
In this study, we found male sex, basic diseases, antiviral drugs, and severe/critical types are related to the occurrence of abnormal liver function in COVID-19 patients.
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