Background

the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is associated with a higher rate of abnormal LFTs and AKI. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on the outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of liver injury at admission and its contribution to the development of AKI, severity of COVID-19 and outcomes

Materials and methods

80 hospitalized patients confirmed to have COVID-19 infection were divided to three subgroups according to severity, mild, moderate and severe, all patients were investigated by full lab at admission and during admission and followed up for occurrence of liver injury or kidney injury.

Results

At admission, 42.5% (34) of the patients had high levels of aminotransferases. in the register, the incidence of AKI was 22.5%. AKI was present in more ICU patients than non-ICU patients (61.1% vs. 38.9%, p.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the group with AKI (50% Vs 9.67% for patients with and without AKI development, respectively, p< .001).ICU patients had a greater incidence of increased AST and/or ALT than non-ICU patients (61.8% Vs 38.2%, p.001).When compared to patients without elevated aminotransferases upon admission, patients with elevated aminotransferases developed AKI at a greater rate (32.4% vs. 15.2%, p=.005) and died in the hospital at a higher rate (26.5% vs. 13%, p=.005).

Concolusion

The independent predictors for the development of AKI and in-hospital death were elevated AST and/or ALT upon admission