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Open Access 01-12-2021 | COVID-19 | Research article

Follow-up study on serum cholesterol profiles and potential sequelae in recovered COVID-19 patients

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

COVID-19 patients develop hypolipidemia. However, it is unknown whether lipid levels have improved and there are potential sequlae in recovered patients.

Objective

In this follow-up study, we evaluated serum lipidemia and various physiopathological laboratory values in recovered patients.

Methods

A 3–6 month follow-up study was performed between June 15 and September 3, 2020, to examine serum levels of laboratory values in 107 discharged COVID-19 patients (mild = 59; severe/critical = 48; diagnoses on admission). Sixty-one patients had a revisit chest CT scan. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze changes in laboratory values at admission and follow-up.

Results

LDL-c and HDL-c levels were significantly higher at follow-up than at admission in severe/critical cases (p < 0.05). LDL-c levels were significantly higher at follow-up than at admission in mild cases (p < 0.05). Coagulation and liver functional values were significantly improved at follow-up than at admission for patients (p < 0.05). Increases in HDL-c significantly correlated with increases in numbers of white blood cells (p < 0.001) during patients’ recovery. With exclusion of the subjects taking traditional Chinese medicines or cholesterol-lowering drugs, LDL-c and HDL-c levels were significantly increased at follow-up than at admission in severe/critical cases (p < 0.05). Residue lesions were observed in CT images in 72% (44 of 61) of follow-up patients.

Conclusions

Improvements of LDL-c, HDL-c, liver functions, and incomplete resolution of lung lesions were observed at 3–6 month follow-up for recovered patients, indicating that a long-term recovery process could be required and the development of sequelae such as pulmonary fibrosis could be expected in some patients.

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Title: Follow-up study on serum cholesterol profiles and potential sequelae in recovered COVID-19 patients
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Keyword: COVID-19
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-05984-1

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Conclusions

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