RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Liver dysfunction in COVID-19: a useful prognostic marker of severe disease?
JF Frontline Gastroenterology
JO Frontline Gastroenterol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 293
OP 298
DO 10.1136/flgastro-2020-101689
VO 12
IS 4
A1 Lok, James
A1 Gess, Markus
YR 2021
UL http://fg.bmj.com/content/12/4/293.abstract
AB Background COVID-19 is a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Risk factors and prognostic markers of severe disease remain to be fully determined, although some studies have suggested a correlation between abnormal liver function and adverse outcomes. Further studies are needed to investigate this further.Methods This retrospective study enrolled patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who were admitted to Kingston Hospital in the UK. Data collected included age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidity profile, biochemical markers of liver function and the acute phase response, and overall outcome.Results Between 16 March 2020 and 30 April 2020, a total of 343 patients were admitted to the acute medical team at Kingston Hospital. Excluding those with a history of liver disease, 299 patients had liver function tests performed with abnormalities demonstrated in 44.8% of individuals. Derangement of liver function was associated with greater need for ventilatory support (p<0.001), admission to high dependency unit or intensive care (p<0.001) and increased length of hospital stay (p<0.001). Of note, liver dysfunction was more common in those of non-white ethnicity (p=0.007) and correlated with higher levels of C reactive protein (p=0.01) and ferritin (p<0.001).Conclusion Abnormal liver function is associated with a negative outcome among those hospitalised with COVID-19. The cause for this association is unclear, but correlation between abnormal liver function and higher serum levels of acute phase proteins suggest that dysregulation of the immune system in response to SARS-CoV-2 may be contributory.Data are available upon reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article.