Elevated liver enzymes as a predictor of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background :A higher rate of abnormal LFTs and AKI is linked to the new coronavirus infection . The prognosis of COVID-19-positive hospitalized patients is still unknown, nevertheless. Purpose: This study's objective is to examine the prevalence of liver injury at admission and how it affects AKI development, COVID-19 severity, and outcomes. Materials and methods: 80 hospitalized COVID-19-positive patients were split into three subgroups based on the degree of their infection: mild, moderate, and severe. All patients were investigated by a 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, AKI was seen in 22.5% of cases. ICU patients had AKI more frequently than non-ICU patients did (61.1% vs. 38.9%, p.001). In-hospital mortality was substantially greater in the AKI group (patients with AKI had a mortality rate of 50% vs. 9.67%, respectively, p.001) than in patients who did not develop AKI. 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=0.005) and died in the hospital at a higher rate (26.5% vs. 13%, p=0.005). Conclusion: Elevated AST and/or ALT levels at admission were independent predictors for the development of AKI and in-hospital death.