DOI: 10.66235/kumj.1875963 ISSN: 2757-9336

Longitudinal evaluation of lipid profile and biochemical parameters in hypertensive patients across three phases of COVID-19 infection

Müzeyyen Budak, Meltem Güngör, Eyüp İlker Saygili, Sevgi Eskiocak, İlyas Gökşen, Sevim Eda Karabacak, Zeynep Rumeysa Yoldaş, Pınar Günel
Show PDF Cite
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal changes in lipid profiles and biochemical parameters in patients with hypertension across three stages: pre-infection, acute COVID-19 infection, and post-infection.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 25 hypertensive patients (average age 66.07±12.02 years; 55.8% male) admitted to a hospital in Gaziantep province. The same patient data were collected from three distinct periods: before COVID-19 diagnosis, during hospitalization for acute COVID-19, and after recovery. Parameters included Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, glucose, electrolytes (Na, K), liver enzymes (AST, ALT), and coagulation markers (PTZ, INR). Statistical significance was assessed across the three time points.Results: A statistically significant difference was found only in Sodium (Na) levels across the three periods (p<0.05). Although not statistically significant, distinct trends were observed: VLDL and TG levels showed a consistent increase from pre-to-post infection. Conversely, HDL-C, Potassium (K), PTZ, and INR levels demonstrated a decreasing trend. LDL-C and Total Cholesterol reached their lowest levels during the acute phase, while AST, ALT, Glucose, and eGFR reached their peak during the acute infection.Conclusion: Acute COVID-19 infection affects lipid metabolism in hypertensive patients. The decrease in protective HDL and the increase in TG suggest a shift towards an atherogenic profile that persists until the recovery phase. Simultaneously, COVID-19 infection causes significant fluctuations in electrolyte balance (sodium) and triggers clinically insignificant but pronounced trends in lipid metabolism. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and metabolic monitoring in this high-risk patient group.

More from our Archive