Organ function biomarker abnormalities, associated factors and disease outcome among hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of abnormal organ function tests and biomarkers in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 and to define the association among markers of organ failure, disease severity and its outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among COVID-19 patients admitted to Millennium COVID-19 Treatment Center from December 2020 to June 2021. Results: The median age of the 440 study participants was 60.3 ± 1.3 years, and from these 71.3% of patients were male. Disease severity: p-value: 0.032; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95% CI): 4.4 (0.022–0.085); and the presence of any co-morbidity; p-value: 0.012; AOR (95% CI): 0.80 (0.47–0.83) was significantly associated with mortality. Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase parameter values of patients overall, were elevated – mainly among critical patients (56.9 ± 57.7, 58.5 ± 63 and 114.6 ± 60, respectively).