TABLE 2.
Comparison of demographics, comorbidities, outcomes, and baseline and peak/nadir liver biochemistries between COVID‐19 subgroups stratified by disease severity
| Characteristic | Mild/Moderate COVID‐19 Cases (n = 358)*, * | Severe/Critical COVID‐19 Cases (n = 65)† | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex (male), n (%) | 198 (55.3) | 31 (47.7) | 0.32 |
| Age at test (median [IQR]) | 74 [59, 84] | 71 [56, 84] | 0.54 |
| Ethnicity category, n (%) | 0.44 | ||
| Asian | 19 (5.3) | 1 (1.5) | |
| Black | 11 (3.1) | 2 (3.1) | |
| Mixed | 5 (1.4) | 3 (4.6) | |
| White | 260 (72.6) | 48 (73.8) | |
| Other | 4 (1.1) | 1 (1.5) | |
| Not stated | 59 (16.5) | 10 (15.4) | |
| BMI (median [IQR]), kg/m2 | 26.9 [23.6, 30.9] | 25.7 [21.6, 32.0] | 0.58 |
| BMI category‡, n (%) | 0.47 | ||
| <18.5 (underweight) | 9 (3.4) | 2 (5.4) | |
| 18.5‐24.9 (normal weight) | 90 (34.0) | 15 (40.5) | |
| 25.0‐29.9 (pre‐obesity/overweight) | 85 (32.1) | 6 (16.2) | |
| 30.0‐34.9 (obesity class I) | 52 (19.6) | 10 (27.0) | |
| 35.0‐39.9 (obesity class II) | 18 (6.8) | 3 (8.1) | |
| ≥40.0 (obesity class III) | 11 (4.2) | 1 (2.7) | |
| Preexisting comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Liver disease | 10 (2.8) | 2 (3.1) | 1 |
| DM | 52 (14.5) | 7 (10.8) | 0.54 |
| HTN | 109 (30.4) | 13 (20.0) | 0.12 |
| CHD | 36 (10.1) | 5 (7.7) | 0.72 |
| CKD | 33 (9.2) | 3 (4.6) | 0.33 |
| Cancer | 27 (7.5) | 3 (4.6) | 0.56 |
| Outcomes | |||
| Death, n (%) | 97 (27.1) | 28 (43.1) | 0.012 |
| ICU admission, n (%) | 37 (10.3) | 18 (27.7) | <0.001 |
| Used invasive ventilation in ICU, n (%) | 23 (6.4) | 14 (21.5) | <0.001 |
| Baseline liver biochemistry | |||
| ALT >ULN, n (%) | 66 (19.0) | 20 (31.2) | 0.041 |
| ALT (median [IQR]), IU/L | 24.0 [17.0, 39.0] | 29.5 [18.8, 50.2] | 0.063 |
| ALP >ULN, n (%) | 71 (20.4) | 10 (15.6) | 0.48 |
| ALP (median [IQR]), IU/L | 84.0 [66.0, 116.2] | 80.0 [60.8, 104.0] | 0.19 |
| BR >ULN, n (%) | 21 (6.1) | 2 (3.1) | 0.52 |
| BR (median [IQR]), µmol/L | 9.0 [6.0, 14.0] | 10.0 [7.0, 13.2] | 0.44 |
| Albumin <LLN, n (%) | 201 (57.8) | 39 (60.9) | 0.74 |
| Albumin (median [IQR]), g/L | 30.5 [27.0, 34.0] | 30.5 [26.8, 33.2] | 0.52 |
| Peak/nadir liver biochemistry | |||
| ALT (median [IQR]), IU/L | 37.0 [23.0, 65.8] | 39.0 [26.0, 97.0] | 0.39 |
| ALT >ULN, n (%) | 148 (41.3) | 29 (44.6) | 0.72 |
| ALP (median [IQR]), IU/L | 108.0 [81.0, 158.0] | 95.0 [75.0, 152.0] | 0.16 |
| ALP >ULN, n (%) | 133 (37.2) | 18 (27.7) | 0.19 |
| BR (median [IQR]), µmol/L | 12.0 [8.0, 17.0] | 13.0 [9.0, 16.0] | 0.67 |
| BR >ULN, n (%) | 52 (14.5) | 5 (7.7) | 0.20 |
| Albumin (median [IQR]), g/L | 25.0 [21.0, 29.0] | 25.0 [21.0, 28.0] | 0.55 |
| Albumin <LLN, n (%) | 307 (85.8) | 57 (87.7) | 0.83 |
Data are the median [IQR] or number (%) unless otherwise indicated. For categorical variables, Fisher's exact test was performed for comparison on cells with small counts (<5), otherwise chi‐square test was used. For continuous variables, Wilcoxon test was used for comparison due to non‐normality. P < 0.05 is considered significant.
Mild/Moderate: baseline respiratory rate ≤30 breaths/minute and SpO2 ≥90%.
Severe/Critical: respiratory rate >30 breaths/minute, or SpO2 <90%.
93 in mild/moderate cases versus 28 in severe/critical cases missing on BMI data; BMI categories were reported based on WHO classification.
Abbreviation: SpO2, oxygen saturation.