Abnormal liver tests in admitted patients with SARS-Cov-2 or other respiratory viruses- prognostic similarities and temporal disparities
Abstract
Background and Aims
Abnormal liver tests are common in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, but their association with short-term outcomes is controversial. We aimed to compare the pattern of abnormal liver tests in SARS-CoV-2 patients with those of patients infected with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), two non-hepatotropic respiratory viruses, and their association with in-hospital mechanical ventilation or death.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study of 1271 hospitalized patients (872 influenza, 218 RSV, and 181 SARS-Cov-2) in a tertiary medical center. We defined abnormal liver tests as GPT, GOT or GGT≥40IU/ML at any time-point during hospitalization.
Results
Abnormal liver tests were mild-moderate in the majority of patients regardless of infection type but the majority of patients with influenza or RSV had a transaminases peak earlier during hospitalization compared to patients with SARS-Cov-2. Abnormal liver tests correlated with markers of severe disease across all types of infections, and were associated with mechanical ventilation or death, occurring mainly in patients with severe liver tests abnormalities (>200IU/L) (27.2%, 39.4% and 55.6% of patients with influenza, RSV or SARS-Cov-2). In multivariate analysis, controlling for age, gender, lymphopenia and CRP, liver tests abnormalities remained significantly associated with mechanical ventilation or death for influenza (OR= 3.047, 95% CI 1.518-6.117) and RSV (OR= 3.402, 95% CI 1.032-11.220) but not for SARS-Cov-2 (OR= 0.995, 95% CI 0.198-4.989). These results were confirmed upon propensity score matching.
Conclusions
Abnormal liver tests during hospitalization with different viral respiratory infections are common, may differ in their time-course and reflect disease severity. They are associated with worse outcomes, mainly in patients with severe liver test abnormalities, regardless of infection type.
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