ASSOCIATION OF LIVER FUNCTION DERANGEMENTS WITH DISEASE SEVERITY IN COVID-19 PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of liver function derangement with disease severity in COVID-19 patients

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in department of Pathology, Army Medical College and Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Apr 2020 to May 2020.

Methodology: Data collection was done for the 96 patients having RT-PCR positive for COVID-19 admitted in the hospital over a period of one month. Patients with history of liver disease were excluded from the study. Patients were categorized as mild, moderate or severe according to the symptoms as well as the location of the patient in different wards. Patients in regular wards were considered as mild, while those in High dependency unit (HDU) were considered to have moderate disease. Whereas patient admitted to intensive care unit (ICU/ITC) were considered as cases with severe disease.

Results: A total of 96 patients were included in the study, out of which 90 were males and 6 were females. Bilirubin levels were significantly deranged in all groups with p-value of <0.001 and same the case for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p-value<0.001), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) (p-value<0.006) and albumin (p-value <0.001). Post Hoc analysis of the significant parameters showed that levels of total bilirubin, ALT and ALP although increased with severity of disease but were found to be non-significantly associated with mild to moderate disease status.

Conclusion: Majority of the Patients with COVID-19 had deranged liver function test, irrespective of disease severity status.