FEATURES OF LIPID PROFILE PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA AND PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Introduction. Pneumonia associated with COVID-19 is frequently accompanied by significant disturbances in the lipid panel. These alterations are likely multifactorial, encompassing the direct impact of the virus on host cells, the inflammatory response, and dysregulation of the immune system.The aim of the study – to analyze lipid profile parameters in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia and peripheral artery disease, depending on the severity of pneumonia.Research methods. A retrospective analysis of medical records of 235 patients who were under inpatient treatment was conducted in this study. Patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of pneumonia.Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups depending on the presence/absence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Results. In patients with Class II risk of lethal outcome in pneumonia associated with COVID-19 and obliterating atherosclerosis of lower limb vessels, significantly higher concentrations of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in comparison to the same risk class group without obliterating atherosclerosis of lower limb vessels.The analysis of lipid profile parameters in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia, as well as with comorbid obliterating atherosclerosis of lower limb vessels, revealed a statistically significant majority of patients with normal total cholesterol concentrations in all studied groups, regardless of the pneumonia severity category.However, it is noteworthy that a higher percentage of patients in Groups II and III with comorbid COVID-19 pneumonia and PAD exhibited elevated total cholesterol levels compared to patients with COVID-19 pneumonia without PAD.A significant increase in the percentage of individuals with elevated triacylglycerol concentrations, elevated low- density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations was established in the groups with comorbid COVID-19-associated pneumonia and obliterating atherosclerosis of lower limb vessels compared to the corresponding groups without atherosclerosis, as the pneumonia severity category progressed.Conclusions. The combination of COVID-19-associated pneumonia and obliterating atherosclerosis of lower limb vessels exacerbates the severity of dyslipidemia, which progresses with increasing pneumonia severity category.