COVID-19 Patients with Hepatic Complications During the Third Wave of Pandemic in Egypt

Abstract

COVID-19 is a respiratory infection that has lately begun to affect other vital organs, including the heart, kidney, and liver. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatic complications in COVID-19 patients and the risk of being admitted to ICU or facing death. Methodology: Comorbidities (hypertension and diabetes), COVID-19 symptoms, laboratory findings (ALT level, AST level, and albumin), complications during hospitalization, treatment protocol used, and survival outcomes were all studied in 200 COVID-19 infected Egyptian patients who had virological symptoms and were followed up until they recovered or died. It was found that older people and those with higher blood glucose levels have a higher risk of developing liver-associated COVID-19 disorders. Also, the majority of patients who developed liver complications in the course of the infection had high mortality rates. Patients with diabetes, hypertension, or hepatic disease are at higher risk of ICU admission or death. Hence, it is important to pay attention to these problems in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 to develop a suitable individualized treatment protocol. There was also a correlation between the mortality in COVID-19 patients and both, high blood glucose and liver enzyme levels. It can be attributed to the correlation between diabetes and liver disease as every disease may be a complication to the other; moreover, COVID-19 may lead to increased blood sugar levels in addition to ALT and AST levels. Another theory is that COVID-19 may affect the liver and hence people with chronic liver disease.