Outcomes of COVID-19 among Patients with Chronic Liver Disease: A Danish Prospective, Population-Based Cohort Study

Abstract

Aims. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis are associated with immune dysregulation and might increase the risk of acquiring COVID-19 and developing more severe outcomes of it. In a population-based cohort study of patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, we investigated the association between liver disease and COVID-19. We assessed the impact of COVID-19 infection on disease severity and the course of liver disease. Methods. We included all patients living in the Capital Region of Denmark and Region Zealand with chronic liver disease and a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. The background population was 2.7 million people; of these, 19,743 people had a diagnosis of liver disease. Between Feb 1, 2020, and Feb 27, 2021, 7,240 people with chronic liver disease were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Results. There were 261 patients with chronic liver disease and COVID-19 in the study. Sixty-four (24.2%) patients had cirrhosis. People with cirrhosis were more likely to require hospitalization than patients with chronic liver disease (71.8% versus 16.2%, p < 0.001 ) and more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit (7.8% versus 3.6%, p = 0.005 ) and had higher rates of mortality (18.7% versus 1.5%, p = 0.001 ). In univariate analyses controlled for age, gender, and comorbidities, cirrhosis remained an independent predictor of severe COVID-19. Of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis, 41% experienced a worsening of their liver disease during their COVID-19 infection. Conclusion. Patients with chronic liver disease, especially those with cirrhosis, are at major risk of a severe COVID-19 disease course and higher mortality.