Gastroenterology Res . Radiographic Hepatic Steatosis Is Not Associated With Key Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19

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Gastroenterology Res


. 2021 Jun;14(3):179-183.
doi: 10.14740/gr1389. Epub 2021 Jun 19.
Radiographic Hepatic Steatosis Is Not Associated With Key Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19


Hirsh D Trivedi ^{1 2 3} , Robert Wilechansky ^{4 5 3} , Daniela Goyes ¹ , Joana Vieira Barbosa ^{1 6} , Andrew Canakis ^{4 5} , Michelle Lai ^{1 2} , Michelle T Long ^{4 5 3} , Zachary Fricker ^{1 2 3}



Affiliations

• PMID: 34267833
• PMCID: PMC8256898
• DOI: 10.14740/gr1389

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome increases adverse outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Hepatic steatosis may increase risk of COVID-19 severity. Current studies evaluating steatosis lack reliable definitions. We aimed to evaluate the association of radiographic hepatic steatosis and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 severity in a diverse cohort.
Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to two US academic hospitals. Outcomes were length of stay, intensive care unit use, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. We used Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous measures and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical measures. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounders.
Results: Of the 319 patients, 14% had hepatic steatosis. There were no differences in length of stay (6 (4 - 16) vs. 9 (4 - 18) days, P = 0.6), intensive care unit (24% vs. 32%, P = 0.3), mechanical ventilation (28% vs. 38%, P = 0.32), or in-hospital mortality (7% vs. 17%, P = 0.12). After adjustment, there was no difference in length of stay (β: -14.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): -30.5 - 1.77, P = 0.08), intensive care unit (odds ratio (OR): 0.31, 95% CI: 0.03 - 1.09, P = 0.06), mechanical ventilation (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02 - 1.09, P = 0.06), or in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.06 - 1.16, P = 0.08) among patients with hepatic steatosis.
Conclusion: Radiographic hepatic steatosis was not associated with worse outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Fatty liver; Metabolic syndrome; Steatosis.