Assessment of abnormal liver function tests and associated factors among COVID-19-infected patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022: a facility-based comparative cross-sectional study
Amare Mekuanint,
Sintayehu Ambachew,
Abebaw Worede,
Fikir Asrie,
Mulusew Alemneh Sinishaw,
Yemataw Gelaw,
Mulat Dagnew,
Aschalew Gelaw,
Markos Negash,
Eyuel Kassa,
Segenet Bizuneh,
Dessalew Wudineh,
Belayneh Dimah,
Wagaw Abebe,
Elias Chane,
Getnet Fetene
Affiliations
Amare Mekuanint
Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Sintayehu Ambachew
Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Abebaw Worede
Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Fikir Asrie
Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Mulusew Alemneh Sinishaw
Department of Clinical Chemistry, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Yemataw Gelaw
Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Mulat Dagnew
Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Aschalew Gelaw
Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Markos Negash
Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Eyuel Kassa
University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Laboratory, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Segenet Bizuneh
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Dessalew Wudineh
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Mizan Tepi University, Mizan Tepi, Ethiopia
Belayneh Dimah
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Wagaw Abebe
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
Elias Chane
Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Getnet Fetene
Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Objective Liver function test (LFT) abnormalities are higher in patients with severe COVID-19. Most of the studies on this theme were conducted in foreign nations, and the association with LFT abnormalities was not sufficiently addressed in the study areas. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on liver function of patients.Setting A facility-based comparative cross-sectional study was carried out from 10 April to 15 June 2022, among COVID-19 infected individuals admitted in Eka Kotebe General Hospital and Saint Petrous Specialized Hospitals, Addis Ababa, 2022.Participants A total of 284 confirmed COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative controls matched by gender and age were included in the present study.Results Among SARS-COV-2 positive groups, 63 (44.4%) had one or more LFT abnormalities. The most common elevated level of the LFTs among patients with COVID-19 were gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) 50 (35.2%), while the most common lowered level was albumin 58 (40.8%). The mean values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (35.4±26.9 vs 22.9±12.6, p<0.001) were significantly different between patients with COVID-19 and the COVID-19-free groups. Being COVID-19-positive was significantly associated with an elevated level of AST (AOR=3.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.4) and GGT (AOR=4.55, 95% CI 2.02 to 10.3). Being male was significantly associated with an elevated level of total bilirubin (BILT, AOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.9) and direct bilirubin (BILD, AOR=3.7, 95% CI 1.72 to 8.2), and also severe stage of COVID-19 was associated with hypoalbuminaemia (AOR=3.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 7.9). SARS-COV-2 infection was independently associated with LFT abnormality.Conclusion Patients with COVID-19 had decreased albumin levels, and elevated AST, GGT, BILT and BILD levels.
