Risk of Severe Illness and Risk Factors of Outcomes of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Liver Disease in a Major U. S. Hospital Network

METHODS: We studied 2731 patients with known CLD who were hospitalized at the Johns Hopkins Health System with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and December 15, 2021. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes were MV and vasopressors. Multivariable Cox regression models were performed to explore factors associated with the outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 80.1% had severe COVID-19, all-cause mortality was 8.9%, 12.8% required MV, and 11.2% received vasopressor support. Older patients with underlying comorbidities were more likely to have severe COVID-19. There was association between elevated aminotransferases and total bilirubin with more severe COVID-19. Hepatic decompensation was independently associated with all-cause mortality (HR 2.94; 95% CI 1.23–7.06). Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD, HR 2.79, 95% CI, 1.00–8.02) was independently associated with increased risk for MV, and independent factors related to vasopressor support were chronic pulmonary disease and underlying malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 infection in patients with CLD is associated with poor outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with hepatic decompensation was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality hazard, and ALD among patients with COVID-19 was associated with an increased hazard for MV.