Hypoalbuminemia in COVID-19 Patients: A Predictor of Disease Severity and Guarded Outcome

ABSTRACT

Background: Pandemic of COVID-19 is spreading in all continents. There have been lots of article published on different aspects of this infection. Finding low Albumin levels in the patients of COVID-19 disease regardless of their degree of severity of infection has surprised us from the beginning. Aim: To review the hypoalbuminemia and its extent in local population presented with COVID-19 and to determine the relationship of degree of hypoalbuminemia with the severity of infection. Place and duration of study Bahria International Hospital Lahore and Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore from 1stMay 2021 to 30thSeptember 2021. Methodology: Medical records 400 COVID-19 patient's related symptoms such as cough, flu, fever, headache, tiredness, distress in breathing were included. Serum Albumin, AST and ALT as clinical bioindicators in COVID-19 patients were reviewed. Results: A significant decrease in serum albumin levels with the means and standard deviation (2.692±0.302), (χ2=344.69, df=16, p<0.001) was recorded. Whereas, a significant increase AST (U/L) and ALT (U/L) with the means and standard deviations (45.130±31.138), (χ2=214.30, df=72, p<0.001) was also noted. Analysis between survivors and non-survivors shows the level of albumin and AST/ALT was inversely proportional. Conclusion: Low albumin is associated with disease severity and poor outcomes in terms of prolonged admissions and worse respiratory failure due to alveolar endothelial damage in COVID-19.