Can plasma lipid levels be correlated to severe COVID-19 infection?

Uyaroğlu, O. A.; Özdede, M.; Başaran, N. Çalık; Köylü, B.; Şahin, T. K.; Özışık, L.; Tanrıöver, M. Durusu; Güven, G. Sain

Background and Aims: Alterations in plasma lipid levels are correlated with the severity of infections due to various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, tuberculosis. While total cholesterol,LDL-C,and HDL-C levels tend to decrease, plasma triglyceride levels can vary(1). Methods: We set up a COVID-19 follow-up outpatient clinic to address and manage the clinical needs of non-critical COVID-19 patients after discharge. Non-critical COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in COVID-19 wards were evaluated after 14-30 days of discharge in terms of plasma lipid levels and these levels were compared to those at the time of admission to COVID-19 wards.Patients on statin treatment continued to take their drug while those who were not on statins were not initiated statin treatment during the study period. Results: The admission and follow-up plasma lipid profiles were present for 95 patients. The mean(S.D) age was 48.49(16.4), and 49(51.6%) were male(Table 1). The mean(S.D) day between the admission and the first visit in the COVID-19 follow-up outpatient clinic was 27.8(12.8). Plasma total cholesterol(p=0.018), LDL-C(p=0.007), and HDL-C(p=0.003) levels were significantly lower in the severely ill group than the mild/moderate group at the admission. Plasma total cholesterol,LDL-C,HDL-C, and triglyceride levels on follow-up were significantly higher than those levels on the admission day(p<0.001). Delta(Follow-up - Admission) levels LDL, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly high in patients who have received steroid therapy. Only delta LDL was significantly high in patients who require Intensive Care Unit(Table 2). [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Conclusions: These findings support the evidence demonstrating that low LDL-C and/or HDL-C levels can increase the risk of developing severe infections(2).