NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

Enabling translational research through partnership

MENUMENU
  • About
    • About the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
    • Activities during COVID-19
    • Strategic Partnership Board
    • Steering Committee
    • Promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
    • Current Vacancies
    • Contact Us
    • Stay in Touch
  • Research

        • Research Overview
        • Clinical Research Facility
        • 15 Research Themes

        • Cancer
        • Cardiovascular Medicine
        • Digital Health from Hospital to Home
        • Gene and Cell Therapy
        • Genomic Medicine
        • Imaging
        • Inflammation across Tissues
        • Life-saving Vaccines
        • Metabolic Experimental Medicine
        • Modernising Medical Microbiology and Big Infection Diagnostics
        • Musculoskeletal
        • Preventive Neurology
        • Respiratory Medicine
        • Surgical Innovation, Technology and Evaluation
        • Translational Data Science
  • Patient & Public Involvement
    • Getting involved with research
    • View and register for involvement opportunities
    • Patient & Public Groups
    • Patient and Public Involvement Advisory Group
    • Diversity in Research Group
    • Oxford Blood Group
    • Case Studies
    • PPIE Strategy
    • PPIE News
    • PPI Researcher Guidance
    • Researchers: Post a PPIE opportunity
  • Training Hub
    • Training Hub Overview
    • Clinical Academic Pathway
    • Internships
    • Preparatory Research Fellowships
    • Senior Research Fellowships
    • Research Training Bursaries
    • Doctoral Awards
    • Post-Doctoral Awards
    • Other funding
    • Leadership Training
    • Useful Links
    • Training and Education Resources
    • Upcoming Training Events & Courses
  • Industry
    • Collaborate with Oxford BRC
    • Who Do We Work With?
    • Events
    • Further Information and Additional Resources
    • Contacts for Industry
  • Videos
  • News
  • Events

News

You are here: Home > COVID-19 > Liver problems common among COVID-19 patients, study finds

Liver problems common among COVID-19 patients, study finds

23 July 2021 · Listed under COVID-19, Inflammation across Tissues, Translational Data Science

A study by Oxford University researchers has found that liver problems are common among patients with COVID-19.

Patient data revealed that baseline hypoalbuminemia (an possible indication that the liver is producing low levels of albumin) and rising alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which can be a sign of liver damage, could be prognostic markers for death.

However, the researchers say that larger studies are needed to develop a better understanding of the relationship between liver biochemistry and COVID-19 outcomes.

The research was carried out under the auspices of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Informatics Collaborative (HIC) , established in 2014 to make routinely collected clinical data available for translational research in selected therapeutic areas across multiple sites. The NIHR HIC viral hepatitis theme is led by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, through the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

The paper was published in Hepatology Communications, the Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

Professor Eleanor Barnes, the Chief Investigator of the NIHR HIC viral hepatitis theme, said: “We aimed to determine whether abnormal liver biochemistry was associated with death in patients hospitalised with COVID-19, and to see if the trajectory of specific liver tests measured over time could predict worse outcomes”.

The Oxford team used routinely collected clinical data from a large UK hospital, matching 585 hospitalised patients with COVID-19 to 1,165 patients without the infection.

Almost 27 per cent of the patients with COVID-19 died, compared to around 12 per cent in the group without. A significantly higher proportion of the group with COVID-19 had signs of liver damage.

Those aged over 75 or with pre-existing liver disease were at much greater risk or dying.

Read the full paper.

← Oxford studies benefit from government funding of long COVID research
BRC-supported study receives Best Research Paper Award →

Other news

News Categories

News by Month

See all news

Subscribe to the Oxford BRC Newsletter

Keep informed about the work of the Oxford BRC by subscribing to our Mailchimp e-newsletter. It is produced several times a year and delivers news and information about upcoming events straight to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Oxford BRC on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Feedback

We’d love to hear your feedback. Please contact us at obrcenquiries@ouh.nhs.uk

  • Data Control and Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Our Partners
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre