Predictors and Outcomes of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Liver Injury

To determine incidence, predictors, and impact of liver injury among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

This is a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. Liver injury (LI) was defined as ALT elevation above institutional cut-off (>50 u/L) and was classified as mild (>1x to 3x ULN), moderate (>3x to 5x ULN), or severe (>5x ULN). Significant liver injury (SLI) was defined as moderate to severe LI. Univariate analysis of SLI predictors was performed. The impact of LI on clinical outcomes was determined and adjusted for known predictors -age, sex, and comorbidities.

Of the 1,131 patients, 565 (50.04%) developed LI. SLI was associated with male sex, alcohol use, chronic liver disease, increasing COVID-19 severity, high bilirubin, AST, LDH, CRP, and low lymphocyte count and albumin. An increasing degree of LI correlated with ICU admission. Only severe LI was associated with the risk of invasive ventilation (OR: 3.54, p=0.01) and mortality (OR: 2.76, p=0.01). Severe LI, male sex, cardiovascular disease, and malignancy were associated with longer hospital stay among survivors.

The liver injury occurred commonly among COVID-19 patients and was associated with important clinicodemographic characteristics. Severe liver injury increases the risk of adverse outcomes among hospitalized patients.