Marked Elevation of Lipase in COVID-19 Disease: A Cohort Study

• Published in: Clinical and translational gastroenterology 2020-07, Vol.11 (7), p.e00215-e00215
• Main Authors: Barlass, Usman, Wiliams, Brett, Dhana, Klodian, Adnan, Darbaz, Khan, Shahab R., Mahdavinia, Mahboobeh, Bishehsari, Faraz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Age; Aged; Antibiotics; Betacoronavirus - isolation & purification; Betacoronavirus - physiology; Body Mass Index; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Coronavirus Infections - blood; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - physiopathology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Diabetes; Drug dosages; Emergency medical care; Enzymes; Female; Fever; Humans; Hypertension; Hypoxia; Infections; Inflammation; Intubation; Laboratories; Lipase - blood; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - diagnosis; Obesity - epidemiology; Pancreas; Pancreas - metabolism; Pancreas - physiopathology; Pancreas - virology; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - blood; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - physiopathology; Polymerase chain reaction; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Symptom Assessment - methods; Symptom Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Ultrasonic imaging; United States - epidemiology; Variables
• ISSN: 2155-384X; 2155-384X
• DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000215

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health crisis. Possible pancreatic involvement has recently been observed in these patients; however, its significance is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of significantly elevated lipase with disease outcomes. Data about demographics, symptoms, laboratory values, and clinical outcomes were collected for 1,003 consecutive patients testing positive for COVID-19. Elevated lipase was defined as greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (>3 × ULN). Baseline characteristics among patients with or without elevated lipase were compared using Fisher exact test or Student t-test for categorical or numerical variables, respectively. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of lipase levels with primary clinical outcomes (intensive care unit admission and intubation) adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, history of diabetes, and hypertension. Of 1,003 patients with COVID-19, 83 had available lipase levels and were all admitted to the hospital. Of 83, 14 (16.8%) had elevated lipase (>3 × ULN), which was associated with higher rates of leukocytosis (P < 0.001) and abnormal liver enzymes (P < 0.01). Compared with lower lipase levels (