Pancreatic damage in COVID-19: Why? How?

Abstract

ObjectWe aimed to evaluate the elevation of amylase and lipase enzymes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients and their relationship with the severity of COVID‐19.MethodIn this study, 1378 patients with COVID‐19 infection were included. Relation of elevated amylase and lipase levels and comorbidities with the severity of COVID‐19 was analysed. The effects of haemodynamic parameters and organ failure on pancreatic enzymes and their relations with prognosis were statistically analysed.ResultsThe 1378 patients comprised of 700 (51.8%) men and 678 (%49.2) women. Of all patients, 687 (49.9%) had mild and 691 (50.1%) patients had severe COVID‐19 infection. Amylase elevation at different levels occurred in 316 (%23) out of 1378 patients. In these patients, the amylase levels increased one to three times in 261 and three times in 55 patients. Pancreatitis was detected in only six (%1.89) of these patients according to the Atlanta criteria. According to univariate and multivariate analyses, elevated amylase levels were significantly associated with the severity of COVID‐19 (odds ratio [OR]: 4.37; P < .001). Moreover, diabetes mellitus (DM; OR: 1.82; P = .001), kidney failure (OR: 5.18; P < .001), liver damage (OR: 6.63; P < .001), hypotension (OR: 6.86; P < .001) and sepsis (OR: 6.20; P = .008) were found to be associated with mortality from COVID‐19.ConclusionElevated pancreatic enzyme levels in COVID‐19 infections are related to the severity of COVID‐19 infection and haemodynamic instability. In a similar way to other organs, the pancreas can be affected by severe COVID‐19 infection.