Risk factors related to liver injury in non-Intensive Care Unit admitted patients infected with COVID-19: A retrospective study of 102 patients

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 targets the liver and there is no available data about liver injury due to mild to moderate form of COVID-19. In this study, we evaluated the risk factors associated with liver injury in NON-ICU admitted COVID-19 patients. METHODS: in this retrospective study, 102 eligible adult participants admitted in the ward were included. The patients with previous history of liver disease were excluded. The patients with AST or ALT or bilirubin more than normal ranges were allocated in liver injury group and patients with normal ranges of them were categorized in non-liver injury. Characteristics and laboratory data were analyzed between these two groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 55.13± 17.02 years old. The most common symptom was fever (45.8%). The most frequent co-morbidity was hypertension (25%). 65 patients had liver injury (63.72%). CRP were significantly higher in liver injury group (P=0.01). Univariate analysis reported ALKP, and CRP was associated significantly with liver injury (P=0.04, OR= 1.003, Cl 95%= 1.000-1.007; P=0.03, OR= 1.009, Cl 95%= 1.000- 1.017, respectively). No independent factor was detected in multivariate analysis. Based on the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients CRP correlated significantly with AST (r=0.22, P=0.00). Moreover, neutrophil and CRP, correlated with ALT (r=0.01, P=0.90; r=0.23, P=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: No independent factor was detected to predict liver injury chance due to COVID-19. However, CRP had a significant association with it. It appears that the role of inflammatory pathways in liver damage was due to COVID-19.