Peculiarities of liver enzymes and clinical status of patients with new coronoviral infection (COVID 19) against background of excess body weight and obesity

The aim: to study peculiarities of liver enzymes state and clinical status of patients with new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) of mild and moderate severity with background of excess body weight and obesity. Materials and methods: 166 patients with COVID-19 infection were included in an open prospective clinical study. The study group (group I) was 118 patients, average age 57.5 [47; 64] years with overweight and obesity (body mass index (BMI) - 31.2 [28.6; 34.9] kg/m2). The comparison group (II) was 48 patients (mean age 53 [41; 62] years) with normal body weight (BMI 23.9 [22.6; 24.6] kg/m2). Clinical-functional, laboratory indicators, data from instrumental research methods were studied. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) of the chest organs. Results: Overweight and obese patients with COVID-19 (n = 118) showed a more significant increase in hepatic transaminases compared to the control group: ALT level was 28.05 [17.9; 45] vs 17,9 [13,6; 24.7] U/L (reference interval < 35U/L), p = 0.000001, ACT - 32 [24; 43,5] vs 24 [19; 28.9] U/l, p = 0.000019. Direct correlation of BMI value in patients with COVID 19 with CT lung lesion volume (r = 0.26, p < 0.05), ACT level (r = 0.25, p < 0.05), ALT (r = 0.31, p < 0.05), CRP (r = 0.34, p < 0.05), ESR (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), the level of proteinuria (r = 0.19, p < 0.05). The volume of lung lesions in overweight and obese patients was significantly higher and amounted to 15 [10; 22.5]% versus 12.5 [6.25; 20]% in patients with normal body weight (p = 0.03). The average level of CRP in patients of group I turned out to be significantly higher compared to group II (21.7 [7.9; 51,8] vs 8,5 [3,5; 22.7] mg/l; p = 0.00049). Conclusion. Patients with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) against the background of excess body weight and obesity compared to patients with normal body weight are characterized by: a larger volume of lung damage by CT, more significant proteinuria, higher rates of CRP, ALT, ACT, which positively correlate with the magnitude of BMI.

coronavirus infection COVID-19, obesity, SARS-CoV-2, liver enzymes

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