Elevated Lp(a) and course of COVID-19: Is there a relationship?

PLoS One. 2022 Jun 8;17(6):e0266814. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266814. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Background: Lipoprotein (a)-Lp(a) has proinflammatory, prothrombotic and proatherogenic properties and may theoretically influence the course of COVID-19.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore whether patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 with Lp(a) ≥30mg/dl may develop a worse course of the disease, increased incidence of thromboembolic complications, intubation and ICU hospitalization or death.

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 124 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the Department of Internal Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology between 29 November 2020 and 15 April 2021. The only exclusion criterion was age≥80 years. Patients were divided into two groups: 1. COVID-19 patients with Lp(a) <30mg/dl regarded as not elevated n = 80; 2. COVID-19 patients with Lp(a) ≥30 regarded as elevated n = 44.

Results: A total of 124 COVID-19 patients were included in the study (66 men and 58 women) with a mean age of 62.8±11 years. COVID-19 patients with elevated Lp(a) level had significantly longer hospitalization time (11 vs. 9.5 days; p = 0.0362), more extensive radiological changes in CT scan (35 vs. 30%; p = 0.0301) and higher oxygen demand on admission (8 vs. 5L/min; p = 0.0428). Elevated Lp(a) was also associated with significantly higher OR for High Flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy (HFNOT) OR = 3.5 95%CI(1.2;8.9), p = 0.0140, Intubation and ICU OR = 4.1 95%CI(1.1;15.2) p = 0.0423, Death OR = 2.8 95%CI(0.9;8.5), p = 0.0409.

Conclusions: Elevated Lp(a) might be one of the factors which contribute to a more severe course of COVID-19; however, further studies including larger groups of patients are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Lipoprotein(a)* / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Lipoprotein(a)
  • Oxygen

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.