Faculty Collaboration Database

Hypertriglyceridemia during hospitalization independently associates with mortality in patients with COVID-19. J Clin Lipidol 2021;15(5):724-731

Date

09/03/2021

Pubmed ID

34470719

Pubmed Central ID

PMC8353976

DOI

10.1016/j.jacl.2021.08.002

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85114047849 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alteration in blood triglyceride levels have been found in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the association between hypertriglyceridemia and mortality in COVID-19 patients is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between alteration in triglyceride level and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 600 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 diagnosis (ICD10CM:U07.1) and/or SARS-CoV-2 positive testing results between March 1, 2020 and December 21, 2020 at a tertiary academic medical center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. De-identified data, including demographics, medical history, and blood triglyceride levels were collected and analyzed. Of the 600 patients, 109 patients died. The triglyceride value on admission was considered the baseline and the peak was defined as the highest level reported during the entire period of hospitalization. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as greater than 150 mg/dl. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between hypertriglyceridemia and mortality.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in baseline triglyceride levels between non-survivors (n = 109) and survivors (n = 491) [Median 127 vs. 113 mg/dl, p = 0.213]. However, the non-survivors had significantly higher peak triglyceride levels during hospitalization [Median 179 vs. 134 mg/dl, p < 0.001]. Importantly, hypertriglyceridemia independently associated with mortality [odds ratio=2.3 (95% CI: 1.4-3.7, p = 0.001)], after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, history of hypertension and diabetes, high CRP, high leukocyte count and glucocorticoid treatment in a multivariable logistic regression model.

CONCLUSIONS: Hypertriglyceridemia during hospitalization is independently associated with 2.3 times higher mortality in COVID-19 patients. Prospective studies are needed to independently validate this retrospective analysis.

Author List

Dai W, Lund H, Chen Y, Zhang J, Osinski K, Jones SZ, Kreuziger LB, López JA, Benjamin IJ, Silverstein RL, Zheng Z

Authors

Lisa M. Baumann Kreuziger MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Ivor J. Benjamin MD Center Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Roy L. Silverstein MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Ze Zheng PhD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Hypertriglyceridemia
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies