Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome Components and COVID-19 Disease Severity in Hospitalized Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background. Preliminary data suggest that patients with comorbidities are more susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection. However, data regarding the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with COVID-19 are scarce. Aim. In the present study, we aim to investigate the association between MetS components and disease severity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study of 90 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia at a tertiary hospital. The study population consisted of inpatients who tested positive by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2. Patients with critical COVID-19 disease on admission were excluded. Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III) criteria were used to define MetS. Laboratory analysis and thorax CT were performed on admission. Results. 90 patients, 60 moderate and 30 severe COVID-19 patients, included in the study. The percentage of MetS cases was higher among severe COVID-19 patients ( $p=0.018$ ). Of the MetS criteria fasting blood glucose ( $p=0.004$ ), triglycerides ( $p=0.007$ ) were significantly higher in patients with severe COVID-19 disease with no statistical significance found in waist circumference (WC) ( $p=0.348$ ), systolic blood pressure ( $p=0.429$ ), and HDL-C levels ( $p=0.263$ ) between two groups. Body mass index (BMI) values were similar in both severe and moderate cases ( $p=0.854$ ). In logistic regression analysis, serum triglycerides ( $p=0.024$ ), HDL-C ( $p=0.006$ ), and WC ( $p=0.004$ ) were found as independent prognostic factor for severe COVID-19 infection. Conclusion. Severe COVID-19 patients have higher rates of MetS. Serum triglycerides, HDL-C, and WC have an impact on disease severity in COVID-19.