Skip to content
2000
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Current Medicinal Chemistry
  4. Volume 32, Issue 9
  5. Article
Volume 32, Issue 9
  • ISSN: 0929-8673
  • E-ISSN: 1875-533X

Abstract

Background

Long COVID is characterized by the persistence of symptoms among individuals who are infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The enduring impact of these long-term effects on the health and well-being of those affected cannot be denied.

Methods

470 patients with SARS-CoV-2 were consecutively recruited in this longitudinal study. The participants were entered into moderate, severe, and critical groups. 235 out of 470 participants were female. The levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), alanine transaminase (SGPT), aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine (Cr), urea, uric acid (UA), and total protein (TP) were measured during hospitalization and again at one and three months after infection. The levels of Zn and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were also measured only during hospitalization.

Results

COVID-19 severity was associated with high levels of glucose, urea, Cr, ALT, AST, ALP, and HbA1c, and low levels of Zn, UA, and TP. There were significant sex differences for these markers at all three-time points. Glucose, urea, Cr, ALT, AST, and ALP all decreased three months after infection, whereas the levels of UA and TP returned towards normal.

Conclusion

COVID-19 infection affects the levels of multiple biochemical factors in a gender-dependent manner. The biochemical changes become more tangible with increasing disease severity, and several of these predict mortality. Levels begin to return to normal after the acute phase of the disease, but in some individuals, at three months, several markers were still not within the normal range. Whether the trajectory of these changes can predict long COVID requires further testing.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673282210231220115719
2024-01-26
2025-06-23

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673282210231220115719
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. ArefiniaN. GhoreshiZ-S. AlipourA.H. Reza MolaeiH. SamieM. SarvariJ. Gastrointestinal manifestations in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.Iran. J. Med. Microbiol.202216427128110.30699/ijmm.16.4.271
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Sharif-zakM. Abbasi-jorjandiM. AsadikaramG. GhoreshiZ. Rezazadeh-JabalbarziM. afsharipurA. RashidinejadH. KhajepourF. JafarzadehA. ArefiniaN. KheyrkhahA. AbolhassaniM. CCR2 and DPP9 expression in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients: Influences of the disease severity and gender.Immunobiology2022227215218410.1016/j.imbio.2022.15218435131543
     [Google Scholar]
  3. GameilM.A. MarzoukR.E. ElsebaieA.H. RozaikS.E. Long-term clinical and biochemical residue after COVID-19 recovery.Egyptian Liver J.20211117410.1186/s43066‑021‑00144‑134777873
     [Google Scholar]
  4. GemciogluE. DavutogluM. CatalbasR. KarabugaB. KaptanE. AypakA. KalemA.K. ÖzdemirM. YeşilovaN.Y. KalkanE.A. CivakM. KücüksahinO. ErdenA. AtesI. Predictive values of biochemical markers as early indicators for severe COVID-19 cases in admission.Future Virol.202116535336710.2217/fvl‑2020‑0319
     [Google Scholar]
  5. BohnM.K. LippiG. HorvathA. SethiS. KochD. FerrariM. WangC.B. ManciniN. SteeleS. AdeliK. Molecular, serological, and biochemical diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19: IFCC taskforce evaluation of the latest evidence.Clin. Chem. Lab. Med.20205871037105210.1515/cclm‑2020‑072232459192
     [Google Scholar]
  6. GreenhalghT KnightM BuxtonM HusainL Management of post-acute covid-19 in primary care.bmj2020370
     [Google Scholar]
  7. MaltezouH.C. PavliA. TsakrisA. Post-COVID syndrome: An insight on its pathogenesis.Vaccines20219549710.3390/vaccines905049734066007
     [Google Scholar]
  8. AmentaE.M. SpalloneA. Rodriguez-BarradasM.C. El SahlyH.M. AtmarR.L. KulkarniP.A. Postacute COVID-19: an overview and approach to classification. Open forum infectious diseases. Oxford University Press US2020712ofaa50910.1093/ofid/ofaa50933403218
     [Google Scholar]
  9. CaiY ShiS YangF YiB ChenX LiJ. Fasting blood glucose level is a predictor of mortality in patients with COVID-19 independent of diabetes history.Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract.202016910843710.1016/j.diabres.2020.10843732920103
     [Google Scholar]
  10. OkF. ErdoganO. DurmusE. CarkciS. CanikA. Predictive values of blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio and other routine blood parameters on disease severity and survival of COVID-19 patients.J. Med. Virol.202193278679310.1002/jmv.2630032662893
     [Google Scholar]
  11. DengX. LiuB. LiJ. ZhangJ. ZhaoY. XuK. Blood biochemical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A systemic review and meta-analysis.Clin. Chem. Lab. Med.20205881172118110.1515/cclm‑2020‑033832554832
     [Google Scholar]
  12. HuF. GuoY. LinJ. ZengY. WangJ. LiM. CongL. Association of serum uric acid levels with COVID-19 severity.BMC Endocr. Disord.20212119710.1186/s12902‑021‑00745‑233964922
     [Google Scholar]
  13. SainiR.K. SainiN. RamS. SoniS.L. SuriV. MalhotraP. KaurJ. VermaI. SharmaS. ZohmangaihiD. COVID-19 associated variations in liver function parameters: A retrospective study.Postgrad. Med. J.2022981156919710.1136/postgradmedj‑2020‑13893033184141
     [Google Scholar]
  14. COVID-19 Clinical Management: Living Guidance, 25 January 2021. 2021. Available from: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/338882
  15. YeL. ChenB. WangY. YangY. ZengJ. DengG. DengY. ZengF. Prognostic value of liver biochemical parameters for COVID-19 mortality.Ann. Hepatol.20212110027910.1016/j.aohep.2020.10.00733157267
     [Google Scholar]
  16. GhoreshiZ.A.S. Abbasi-jorjandiM. AsadikaramG. Sharif-zakM. SeyediF. Khaksari HaddadM. ZangoueyM. Paraoxonase 1 rs662 polymorphism, its related variables, and COVID-19 intensity: Considering gender and post-COVID complications.Exp. Biol. Med.202210.1177/1535370222112856336314852
     [Google Scholar]
  17. BonanadC. García-BlasS. Tarazona-SantabalbinaF. SanchisJ. Bertomeu-GonzálezV. FácilaL. ArizaA. NúñezJ. CorderoA. The effect of age on mortality in patients with COVID-19: A meta-analysis with 611,583 subjects.J. Am. Med. Dir. Assoc.202021791591810.1016/j.jamda.2020.05.04532674819
     [Google Scholar]
  18. HendrenN.S. de LemosJ.A. AyersC. DasS.R. RaoA. CarterS. RosenblattA. WalchokJ. OmarW. KheraR. HegdeA.A. DraznerM.H. NeelandI.J. GrodinJ.L. Association of body mass index and age with morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: Results from the american heart association COVID-19 cardiovascular disease registry.Circulation2021143213514410.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.05193633200947
     [Google Scholar]
  19. SoerotoA.Y. SoetedjoN.N. PurwigaA. SantosoP. KulsumI.D. SuryadinataH. FerdianF. Effect of increased BMI and obesity on the outcome of COVID-19 adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Diabetes Metab. Syndr.20201461897190410.1016/j.dsx.2020.09.02933007661
     [Google Scholar]
  20. WuJ. HuangJ. ZhuG. WangQ. LvQ. HuangY. YuY. SiX. YiH. WangC. LiuY. XiaoH. ZhouQ. LiuX. YangD. GuanX. LiY. PengS. SungJ. XiaoH. Elevation of blood glucose level predicts worse outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.BMJ Open Diabetes Res. Care202081e00147610.1136/bmjdrc‑2020‑00147632503812
     [Google Scholar]
  21. MantovaniA. ByrneC.D. ZhengM.H. TargherG. Diabetes as a risk factor for greater COVID-19 severity and in-hospital death: A meta-analysis of observational studies.Nutr. Metab. Cardiovasc. Dis.20203081236124810.1016/j.numecd.2020.05.01432571616
     [Google Scholar]
  22. ShahB.R. HuxJ.E. Quantifying the risk of infectious diseases for people with diabetes.Diabetes Care200326251051310.2337/diacare.26.2.51012547890
     [Google Scholar]
  23. ChenJ. WuC. WangX. YuJ. SunZ. The impact of COVID-19 on blood glucose: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front. Endocrinol. (Lausanne)20201157454110.3389/fendo.2020.57454133123093
     [Google Scholar]
  24. ŠestanM. MarinovićS. KavazovićI. CekinovićĐ. WueestS. WensveenT.T. Virus-induced interferon-γ causes insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and derails glycemic control in obesity.Immunity2018491164177
     [Google Scholar]
  25. XiangH.X. FeiJ. XiangY. XuZ. ZhengL. LiX.Y. FuL. ZhaoH. Renal dysfunction and prognosis of COVID-19 patients: A hospital-based retrospective cohort study.BMC Infect. Dis.202121115810.1186/s12879‑021‑05861‑x33557785
     [Google Scholar]
  26. GhahramaniS. TabriziR. LankaraniK.B. KashaniS.M.A. RezaeiS. ZeidiN. AkbariM. HeydariS.T. AkbariH. Nowrouzi-SohrabiP. AhmadizarF. Laboratory features of severe vs. Non-severe COVID-19 patients in Asian populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur. J. Med. Res.20202513010.1186/s40001‑020‑00432‑332746929
     [Google Scholar]
  27. BzeiziK. AbdullaM. MohammedN. AlqamishJ. JamshidiN. BroeringD. Effect of COVID-19 on liver abnormalities: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci. Rep.20211111059910.1038/s41598‑021‑89513‑934012016
     [Google Scholar]
  28. YuD. DuQ. YanS. GuoX.G. HeY. ZhuG. ZhaoK. OuyangS. Liver injury in COVID-19: Clinical features and treatment management.Virol. J.202118112110.1186/s12985‑021‑01593‑134108015
     [Google Scholar]
  29. BowmanG.L. ShannonJ. FreiB. KayeJ.A. QuinnJ.F. Uric acid as a CNS antioxidant.J. Alzheimers Dis.20101941331133610.3233/JAD‑2010‑133020061611
     [Google Scholar]
  30. WuD. ShuT. YangX. SongJ.X. ZhangM. YaoC. LiuW. HuangM. YuY. YangQ. ZhuT. XuJ. MuJ. WangY. WangH. TangT. RenY. WuY. LinS.H. QiuY. ZhangD.Y. ShangY. ZhouX. Plasma metabolomic and lipidomic alterations associated with COVID-19.Natl. Sci. Rev.2020771157116810.1093/nsr/nwaa08634676128
     [Google Scholar]
  31. WerionA. BelkhirL. PerrotM. SchmitG. AydinS. ChenZ. PenalozaA. De GreefJ. YildizH. PothenL. YombiJ.C. DewulfJ. ScohyA. GérardL. WitteboleX. LaterreP.F. MillerS.E. DevuystO. JadoulM. MorelleJ. AboubakarF. AcidS. AminiN. BaillyS. BeauloyeC. Castanares-ZapateroD. CocheE. CollienneC. CornetteP. De BrauwerI. DechampsM. DupriezF. FroidureA. GarnirQ. GerberB. GhayeB. GilardI. GohyS. GrégoireC. HantsonP. JacquetL-M. KabambaB. KautballyS. LanthierN. LarbaouiF. LiistroG. MaesF. MontielV. MwengeB. PierardS. PiletteC. PouleurA.C. SogorbA. StarkelP. Rodriguez-VillalobosH. ThomaM. Van CaeneghemO. VancraeynestD. Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc (CUSL) COVID-19 Research Group SARS-CoV-2 causes a specific dysfunction of the kidney proximal tubule.Kidney Int.20209851296130710.1016/j.kint.2020.07.01932791255
     [Google Scholar]
  32. AliA.M. KunugiH. Hypoproteinemia predicts disease severity and mortality in COVID-19: A call for action.Diagn. Pathol.20211613110.1186/s13000‑021‑01092‑533849598
     [Google Scholar]
  33. AliA. KunugiH. Age-related skeletal muscle failure (sarcopenia)—a detrimental challenge during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) era: A review.Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.20211140
     [Google Scholar]
  34. HuangW. LiC. WangZ. WangH. ZhouN. JiangJ. NiL. ZhangX.A. WangD.W. Decreased serum albumin level indicates poor prognosis of COVID-19 patients: Hepatic injury analysis from 2,623 hospitalized cases.Sci. China Life Sci.202063111678168710.1007/s11427‑020‑1733‑432567003
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Bagher PourO. YahyaviY. KarimiA. KhamanehA.M. MilaniM. KhaliliM. SharifiA. Serum trace elements levels and clinical outcomes among Iranian COVID-19 patients.Int. J. Infect. Dis.202111116416810.1016/j.ijid.2021.08.05334454118
     [Google Scholar]
  36. RahmanM.T. IdidS.Z. Can Zn be a critical element in COVID-19 treatment?Biol. Trace Elem. Res.2021199255055810.1007/s12011‑020‑02194‑932458149
     [Google Scholar]
  37. MaaresM. HaaseH. Zinc and immunity: An essential interrelation.Arch. Biochem. Biophys.2016611586510.1016/j.abb.2016.03.02227021581
     [Google Scholar]
  38. MontefuscoL. Ben NasrM. D’AddioF. LoretelliC. RossiA. PastoreI. DanieleG. AbdelsalamA. MaestroniA. Dell’AcquaM. IppolitoE. AssiE. UsuelliV. SeelamA.J. FiorinaR.M. ChebatE. MorpurgoP. LunatiM.E. BollaA.M. FinziG. AbdiR. BonventreJ.V. RusconiS. RivaA. CorradiD. SantusP. NebuloniM. FolliF. ZuccottiG.V. GalliM. FiorinaP. Acute and long-term disruption of glycometabolic control after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Nat. Metab.20213677478510.1038/s42255‑021‑00407‑634035524
     [Google Scholar]
  39. GosaviS. HarishaE.J. RaoA. SahanaG.V. ManjunathS. MeghanaT.C. Liver: Function and dysfunction in COVID-19.J. Family Med. Prim. Care202211275876110.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_7_2135360815
     [Google Scholar]
  40. HwaizR. MerzaM. HamadB. HamaSalihS. MohammedM. HamaH. Evaluation of hepatic enzymes activities in COVID-19 patients.Int. Immunopharmacol.20219710770110.1016/j.intimp.2021.10770133930704
     [Google Scholar]
  41. KimS.G. SungH.H. Status of kidney function in hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the Southern Gyeonggi province, South Korea.Korean J. Clin. Lab. Sci202153320821610.15324/kjcls.2021.53.3.208
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673282210231220115719
Loading
Time Course of Biochemical and Metabolic Parameters During and After COVID-19
Curr. Med. Chem. 32, 1803 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0109298673282210231220115719
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673282210231220115719
/content/journals/cmc/10.2174/0109298673282210231220115719
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplements

Supplementary material is available on the publisher’s website along with the published article.

file format download Download

  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): biochemical factors; COVID-19; long-COVID; metabolic parameters; post-COVID; SARS-CoV-2

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test