Prognostic significance of temporal changes of lipid profile in COVID-19 patients.

Background: COVID-19 is a multisystemic disease that affects many organs and has metabolic effects.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the effect of the temporal changes of lipid levels on the prognosis during the course of the disease.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: For this single-center study, data of patients who were treated for COVID-19 were collected. Fasting lipid parameters including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels were collected within 24 h of hospitalization. For investigation of temoral changes in lipid parameters, the results of the same parameters in the one-year period before COVID-19 were collected from medical records. A total number of 324 eligible COVID-19 patients were included in this study. The association of changes of lipid parameters with COVID-19 symptom severity and in-hospital mortality were investigated.

Results: The mean age of the severe group (n = 139) was 65.4 ± 15.5 years, and 60% were male. TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels were significantly lower compared to pre-COVID measurements in the study population. Multiple linear regression analysis determined age, acute kidney injury, hs-Troponin, D-dimer, temporal changes in TC, and TG levels were determined as independent predictors for the development of COVID-19 mortality.

Conclusion: Our findings showed that temporal changes in lipid parameters before and after COVID-19 may be associated with mortality and in-hospital adverse outcomes.