Changes in the Levels of Biochemical Markers Following Coronavirus Infection in Patients with Liver Disease, Renal Disease and Diabetes Mellitus as Compared to Control Participants: A Cross Sectional Study

Background & Aim of the Study: Increased levels of many biomarkers, including liver enzymes, blood urea and serum creatinine as well as glycemic markers have been reported following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, leading to the development of acute disease. This study aims to measure and follow-up the following biomarkers (fasting blood glucose, blood urea, serum creatinine, total serum bilirubin, as well as the liver enzymes AST, ALT, and ALP) in otherwise healthy participants and patients with liver disease, renal disease and diabetes following COVID-19 infection. Materials and Methods: This is cross section study, included 144 participants who were infected with COVID-19 and admitted to the Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Participants were divided into 4 study groups, Group 1: 46 participants with no pre-existing medical condition (Control), Group 2: 30 patients with existing liver disease. Group 3: 28 patients with existing renal disease and Group 4: 40 patients with diabetes mellitus. Participants were followed up for 14 days following COVID-19 infection to monitor the progression of the biochemical markers. Results: There were significant changes in serum levels of all the markers of this study between the four study groups (p<0.001). Serum ALP levels were not significantly changed within any of the four study groups. However, both ALT and AST levels were significantly changed within all the four study groups (p<0.001). The levels of TSB changes significantly within the renal group (Group 3), (p=0.017). The levels of S. Creatinine showed significant changes in all the study groups except the renal group (Group 3). The levels change significantly within all the study groups except the control group (Group 1), while fasting blood glucose levels changes significantly in the control group only (Group 1), (p=0.004). Conclusions: Following COVID-19 infection, there were significant changes in the levels of ALT, AST, S. Creatinine and B.Urea after 14 days of the disease progression. While in patients with existing renal disease, there were significant changes in the levels of TSB, AST, ALT and B. Urea following COVID-19 infection. In diabetic patients, there were significant increase in the level of   fasting blood glucose after 14 days of COVID-19 infection. there were no significant changes in serum levels of ALP and FBG in patients with chronic illnesses (liver disease, renal disease, and diabetes) when compared to control group.