Changes in lipid, liver, and renal test profiles among patients with severe COVID-19 during and after hospital admission at Saint Peter Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: The progression of COVID-19 affects multiple organs, abnormal lipid, liver, and renal function tests have beenreported. Hence, this study aimed to determine differences in organ function and lipid profile among patients with severe COVID-19 during and after hospital admission. Methods: A follow-up study was conducted among COVID-19-admitted patients at St. Peter Specialized Hospital from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2021. A total of 162 patients were included in the study. Five millilitersof venous blood was collected during admission and on the verge of discharge. Lipid, renal and liver function tests were performedusing aCobas 311 analyser. The data were entered and analysed with SPSS version 25. Results: The mean differences in total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL at admission and discharge were 20.13 (95% CI; 13.41-26.84; P<0.001), 7.53 (95% CI; 5.24-9.81; P <0.001), and 0.10 (95% CI; 0.06-0.14; P<0.001), respectively. Albumin concentrationincreased significantly at discharge, while the ALT concentration decreasedsignificantly at discharge (P<0.05). Conclusion: Dyslipidemia and low levels of Albumin were recorded during the progression of COVID-19 (at admission). This indicated severe COVID-19 disease leads to lipid alteration and Additional studies need to better define the disease's association with liver and renal function tests.