Hepatic and gastrointestinal disturbances in Egyptian patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019: A multicentre cohort study

Table 1 Patients characteristics according to the degree of aspartate transaminase elevation, n (%)

Variable		AST level					P value
		Normal291 (67.99)	1-2 UNL97 (22.66)	2-3 UNL19 (4.44)	> 3UNL21 (4.91)	Total
Age	< 18	7 (87.5)	1 (12.5)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	8 (100.0)	< 0.001
	18:60	237 (72.7)	65 (19.9)	9 (2.8)	15 (4.6)	326 (100.0)
	> 60	47 (50.0)	32 (34.0)	9 (9.6)	6 (6.4)	94 (100.0)
Gender	Male	142 (61.2)	66 (28.4)	10 (4.3)	14 (6.0)	232 (100)	0.009
	Female	149 (76.0)	32 (16.3)	8 (4.1)	7 (3.6)	196 (100)
Cigarette smoking		10 (47.6)	10 (47.6)	0 (0.0)	1 (4.8)	21 (100)	0.04
Diabetes mellitus		68 (61.8)	32 (29.1)	6 (5.5)	4 (3.6)	110 (100)	0.23
Hypertension		60 (55.6)	34 (31.5)	10 (9.3)	4 (3.7)	108 (100)	0.001
Chronic hepatitis C		3 (21.4)	7 (50.0)	0 (0.0)	4 (28.6)	14 (100)	< 0.001
CT chest	Normal	105 (78.9)	21 (15.8)	5 (3.8)	2 (1.5)	133 (100)	0.008
	Abnormal	181 (63.1)	76 (26.5)	13 (4.5)	17 (5.9)	287 (100)
Lung consolidation		37 (56.1)	20 (30.3)	6 (9.1)	3 (4.5)	66 (100)	0.05

AST: Aspartate transaminase; CT: computed tomography; UNL: Upper limit of normal.

Table 2 Laboratory characteristics according to the degree of aspartate transaminase elevation, n (%)

Variable	AST level					P value
	Normal291 (67.99)	1-2 UNL97 (22.66)	2-3 UNL19 (4.44)	> 3UNL21 (4.91)	Total
Hemoglobin (gm/L) median (IQR)	12.80 (11.80:14.00)	13.00 (12.00:14.23)	12.85 (11.23:14.05)	13.00 (10.75:15.00)	12.60 (12.00:13.90)	0.49
white blood cell count (× 109)	5.00 (3.80:7.00)	6.20 (4.88:10.68)	6.30 (4.73:9.48)	7.40 (4.35:9.85)	5.00 (4.40:7.60)	< 0.001
Neutrophils absolute count	2.58 (1.58:4.40)	3.90 (2.20:7.87)	4.60 (3.01:8.13)	6.00 (2.74:8.33)	2.95 (1.70:5.60)	< 0.001
Neutrophils percentage	53.00 (42.00:69.00)	61.50 (43.13:80.85)	55.50 (42.75:68.25)	73.00 (55.00:89.88)	56.50 (42.63:70.75)	0.25
Lymphocytes absolute count	1.63 (1.30:2.30)	1.40 (1.01:2.35)	1.50 (0.89:1.92)	1.07 (0.80:1.48)	1.58 (1.10:2.20)	< 0.001
Lymphocytes percentages	38.00 (26.00:45.90)	23.30 (14.50:37.60)	23.40 (16.85:28.90)	14.00 (8.00:28.00)	32.70 (20.15:45.00)	< 0.001
Neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio	2.16 (1.30:3.73)	6.11 (2.12:11.26)	3.66 (3.26)	5.31 (3.83:6.84)	3.11 (1.56:6.16)	0.002
Platelet Count	225.00 (173.00:283.00)	221.00 (174.50:286.50)	251.00 (180.75:319.75)	210.00 (146.50:293.50)	208.00 (184.00:272.00)	0.62
AST	22.00 (17.00:28.00)	46.00 (41.00:55.50)	85.00 (72.75:95.25)	156.00 (117.00:252.00)	28.00 (19.00:43.00)	< 0.001
ALT	22.00 (16.00:30.00)	48.00 (36.00:68.00)	68.00 (44.00:92.75)	142.00 (93.50:217.50)	27.00 (18.00:46.00)	< 0.001
Alkaline phosphatase	89.00 (68.50:112.00)	82.50 (76.50:88.50)	155.00 (125.25:349.00)	111.00 (84.00:144.00)	89.00 (71.00:114.50)	0.01
GGT	31.00 (20.00:34.00)	39.50 (31.25:62.25)	67.50 (65.00)	90.00 (65.00)	34.00 (22.00:50.00)	0.005
Total bilirubin	0.80 (0.50:1.10)	0.90 (0.70:1.13)	1.15 (0.88:1.65)	1.80 (0.75:2.15)	0.80 (0.60 :1.13)	0.09
Serum albumin	4.20 (3.80:4.50)	4.10 (3.90:4.45)	3.80 (3.80)	3.80 (2.90:4.10)	4.20 (3.80:4.50)	0.13
D-dimer	0.54 (0.35:1.02)	0.57 (0.40:1.21)	1.08 (0.55:1.50)	0.90 (0.40:2.24)	0.58 (0.40:1.10)	0.005
Ferritin	230.00 (110.00:486.00)	406.85 (200.00:773.25)	804.00 (317.50:960.50)	540.00 (231.45:1219.10)	300.00 (132.80:590.00)	< 0.001
C-reactive protein	32.00 (5.00:64.00)	43.22 (14.40:64.00)	64.00 (31.50:109.85)	39.23 (32.00:64.00)	45.00 (8.25:64.00)	0.002
Recovery	273 (93.8)	78 (81.3)	11 (61.1)	17 (81.0)	379 (89.0)	< 0.001
Death	18 (6.2)	18 (18.8)	7 (38.9)	4 (19.0)	47 (11.0)

Data are presented as median and interquartile range (IQR). AST: Aspartate transaminase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase; IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 3 Patients characteristics according to the degree of alanine transaminase elevation, n (%)

Variable		ALT levels					P value
		Normal318 (74.0)	1-2 UNL73 (17.0)	2-3 UNL23 (5.3)	> 3UNL16 (3.7)	Total
Age	< 18	9 (100.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	9 (100.0)	0.53
	18:60	246 (75.0)	53 (16.2)	18 (5.5)	11 (3.4)	328 (100.0)
	> 60	63 (67.7)	20 (21.5)	5 (5.4)	5 (5.4)	93 (100.0)
Gender	Male	157 (67.4)	50 (21.5)	16 (6.9)	10 (4.3)	233 (100.0)	0.02
	Female	160 (81.6)	23 (11.7)	7 (3.6)	6 (3.1)	196 (100.0)
Cigarette smoking		10 (47.6)	5 (23.8)	4 (19.0)	2 (9.5)	21 (100.0)	0.02
Diabetes mellitus		79 (71.2)	27 (24.3)	3 (2.7)	2 (1.8)	111 (100.0)	0.04
Hypertension		79 (73.1)	25 (23.1)	2 (1.9)	2 (1.9)	108 (100.0)	0.05
Chronic hepatitis C		5 (35.7)	6 (42.9)	1 (7.1)	2 (14.3)	14 (100.0)	0.005
CT chest	Normal	110 (82.1)	16 (11.9)	7 (5.2)	1 (.7)	134 (100.0)	0.04
	Abnormal	203 (70.5)	56 (19.4)	16 (5.6)	13 (4.5)	288 (100.0)
Consolidation		43 (65.2)	17 (25.8)	3 (4.5)	3 (4.5)	66 (100.0)	0.06

AST: Aspartate transaminase; CT: Computed tomography.

Table 4 Laboratory characteristics according to the degree of alanine transaminase elevation, n (%)

Variable	ALT levels					P value
	Normal318 (74.0)	1-2 UNL73 (17.0)	2-3 UNL23 (5.3)	> 3UNL16 (3.7)	Total
Hemoglobin (gm/L) median (IQR)	12.75 (11.78:14.00)	13.00 (12.10:14.45)	13.30 (12.30:14.80)	13.35 (10.63:14.98)	12.60 (12.00:13.90)	0.09
white blood cell count (× 109)	5.00 (4.00:7.40)	6.30 (4.70:10.55)	6.30 (4.20:9.80)	7.55 (3.88:9.33)	5.00 (4.40:7.60)	0.003
Neutrophils absolute count	2.70 (1.60:4.69)	4.00 (2.40:7.73)	2.70 (1.80:7.10)	5.00 (2.60:6.97)	2.95 (1.70:5.60)	0.02
Neutrophils percentage	53.00 (41.50:66.50)	57.00 (46.00:77.50)	82.60 (44.93:92.08)	66.50 (53.25:74.50)	56.50 (42.63:70.75)	0.17
Lymphocytes absolute count	1.60 (1.20:2.30)	1.60 (1.02:2.00)	1.26 (1.06:1.80)	1.07 (0.83:1.50)	1.58 (1.10:2.20)	0.04
Lymphocytes percentages	36.00 (24.23:45.00)	22.00 (15.70:43.40)	25.55 (15.05:42.38)	22.60 (13.75:33.75)	32.70 (20.15:45.00)	0.01
Neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio	2.19 (1.40:4.19)	6.07 (2.96:9.15)	6.24 (2.83:7.96)	4.14 (2.70:15.85)	3.11 (1.56:6.16)	0.002
Platelet count	220.00 (168.00:273.25)	238.00 (168.00:309.00)	219.00 (202.00:297.00)	271.00 (160.00:343.75)	208.00 (184.00:272.00)	0.11
AST	23.00 (17.00:31.00)	46.00 (34.00:60.00)	61.00 (52.00:84.00)	154.50 (109.25:236.00)	28.00 (19.00:43.00)	< 0.001
ALT	22.00 (16.00:29.25)	56.00 (48.00:63.60)	96.00 (91.00:110.00)	183.50 (144.50:228.50)	27.00 (18.00:46.00)	< 0.001
Alkaline phosphatase	88.00 (65.50:108.50)	88.00 (77.50:134.00)	86.00 (86.00:86.00)	120.00 (90.00:151.00)	89.00 (71.00:114.50)	0.19
GGT	23.00 (20.00:34.00)	39.50 (34.00:67.75)	34.00 (22.00:50.00)	77.50 (65.00:101.25)	34.00 (22.00:50.00)	0.001
Total bilirubin	0.80 (0.50:0.90)	1.10 (0.75:1.40)	0.80 (0.35: 0.88)	1.80 (1.25:2.15)	0.80 (0.60 :1.13)	0.01
Serum albumin	4.20 (3.70:4.50)	4.00 (3.83:4.45)	3.10 (2.60)	3.80 (3.50:4.10)	4.20 (3.80:4.50)	0.29
D-dimer	0.55 (0.36:1.02)	0.58 (0.40:1.27)	0.63 (0.36:1.50)	0.58 (0.40:1.48)	0.58 (0.40:1.10)	0.23
Ferritin	245.20M (122.93:540.00)	427.80 (200.00:847.00)	438.00 (86.50:922.00)	430.50 (215.73:1076.00)	300.00 (132.80:590.00)	0.009
C-reactive protein	32.00 (5.00:64.00)	32.00 (20.00:64.00)	32.00 (9.40:64.00)	55.44 (32.00:78.23)	45.00 (8.25:64.00)	0.09
Recovery	286 (90.2)	60 (83.3)	22 (95.7)	13 (81.3)	381 (89.0)	0.18
Death	31 (9.8)	12 (16.7)	1 (4.3)	3 (18.8)	47 (11.0)

AST: Aspartate transaminase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase; IQR: Interquartile range; UNL: Upper limit normal.

Table 5 Univariate analysis for factors affecting the outcome, n (%)

Variable		Outcome				P value
		Death	Recovery	Total
Age	< 18 yr	0 (0.0)	20 (100.0)	20 (100.0)	< 0.001
	18-60 yr	25 (6.1)	384 (93.9)	409 (100.0)
	> 60 yr	27 (23.5)	88 (76.5)	115 (100.0)
Gender	Male	29 (9.7)	270 (90.3)	299 (100.0)	0.94
	Female	23 (9.4)	221 (90.6)	244 (100.0)
BMI (mean ± SD)		24.90 ± 2.08	28.11 ± 4.9		0.36
Cigarette smoking		2 (9.5)	19 (90.5)	21 (100.0)	0.64
Diabetes mellitus		17 (12.6)	118 (87.4)	135 (100.0)	0.17
Hypertension		17 (13.2)	112 (86.8)	129 (100.0)	0.11
Pulmonary diseases		2 (40.0)	3 (60.0)	5 (100.0)	0.07
Symptoms	Asymptomatic	1 (0.9)	116 (99.1)	117 (100.0)	< 0.001
	Respiratory	47 (12.8)	320 (87.2)	367 (100.0)	0.17
	GIT	4 (6.7)	56 (93.3)	60 (100.0)
	Fever	43 (14.5)	254 (85.5)	297 (100.0)	< 0.001
	Headache	16 (10.3)	140 (89.7)	156 (100.0)	0.73
	Dry cough	40 (14.0)	245 (86.0)	285 (100.0)	< 0.001
	Dyspnea	38 (21.5)	139 (78.5)	177 (100.0)	< 0.001
	Sore throat	2 (2.3)	86 (97.7)	88 (100.0)	0.01
	Diarrhoea	2 (3.8)	50 (96.2)	52 (100.0)	0.21
Steroids		18 (14.2)	109 (85.8)	127 (100.0)	0.04
Lactoferrin		1 (2.2)	45 (97.8)	46 (100.0)	0.11
Hydroxy-chloroquine		12 (8.8)	124 (91.2)	136 (100.0)	0.74
Chloroquine sulphate		26 (8.3)	287 (91.7)	313 (100.0)	0.25
Vitamin C		22 (6.5)	318 (93.5)	340 (100.0)	0.002
Azithromycin		5 (4.1)	117 (95.9)	122 (100.0)	0.02
Other antibiotic		21 (10.9)	171 (89.1)	192 (100.0)	0.42
Subcutaneous heparin		43 (19.4)	179 (80.6)	222 (100.0)	< 0.001
Oral anticoagulants		0 (0.0)	33 (100.0)	33 (100.0)	0.06
COVID-19 disease classification	Mild	1 (0.4)	247 (99.6)	248 (100.0)	< 0.001
	Moderate	7 (4.0)	169 (96.0)	176 (100.0)
	Severe	10 (17.2)	48 (82.8)	58 (100.0)
	Critical	34 (55.7)	27 (44.3)	61 (100.0)
CT chest	Normal	4 (2.0)	194 (98.0)	198 (100.0)	< 0.001
	Abnormal	48 (14.2)	290 (85.8)	338 (100.0)
Lug consolidation		29 (42.6)	39 (57.4)	68 (100.0)	< 0.001
ICU admission		45 (37.2)	76 (62.8)	121 (100.0)	< 0.001
Fibrosis 4-score	< 1.45	17 (6.1)	263 (93.9)	280 (100.0)	< 0.001
	1.45:3.25	16 (15.1)	90 (84.9)	106 (100.0)
	> 3.25	14 (38.9)	22 (61.1)	36 (100.0)
Creatinine	Normal	35 (7.3)	445 (92.7)	480 (100.0)	< 0.001
	1-2 UNL	14 (25.9)	40 (74.1)	54 (100.0)
	2-3 UNL	1 (50.0)	1 (50.0)	2 (100.0)
	> 3UNL	2 (28.6)	5 (71.4)	7 (100.0)
Urea	Normal	24 (7.5)	295 (92.5)	319 (100.0)	< 0.001
	1-2 UNL	18 (26.5)	50 (73.5)	68 (100.0)
	2-3 UNL	3 (37.5)	5 (62.5)	8 (100.0)
	> 3UNL	4 (44.4)	5 (55.6)	9 (100.0)
Estimated-glomerular filtration rate	< 15	2 (28.6)	5 (71.4)	7 (100.0)	< 0.001
	15:29	4 (50.0)	4 (50.0)	8 (100.0)
	30:44	4 (22.2)	14 (77.8)	18 (100.0)
	45:59	10 (18.2)	45 (81.8)	55 (100.0)
	60:89	17 (8.6)	181 (91.4)	198 (100.0)
	≥ 90	15 (5.8)	243 (94.2)	258 (100.0)
Hemoglobin (gm/L)1		12.35 (11.28:13.70)	12.60 (12.00: 13.90)	12.60 (12.00:13.90)	0.23
white blood cell count (× 109)1		8.95 (5.08:13.68)	5.00 (4.30:6.90)	5.00 (4.40:7.60)	< 0.001
Neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio		9.85 (5.14:14.85)	2.71 (1.56:5.14)	3.11 (1.56:6.16)	0.003
Platelet count1		201.50 (182.25:278.50)	210.00 (187.00:271.50)	208.00 (184.00:272.00)	0.84
AST1		43.00 (28.00:67.00)	26.00 (18.00:40.00)	28.00 (19.00:43.00)	< 0.001
ALT1		31.00 (18.00:51.00)	26.70 (18.00:45.00)	27.00 (18.00:46.00)	0.35
Alkaline phosphatase1		152.00 (49.00)	89.00 (71.50:114.00)	89.00 (71.00:114.50)	0.37
Total bilirubin1		0.75 (0.70:0.80)	0.90 (0.60:1.20)	0.80 (0.60 :1.13)	0.38
Serum albumin1		4.00 (2.60)	4.20 (3.80:4.50)	4.20 (3.80:4.50)	0.36
D-dimer1		0.89 (0.40:1.96)	0.56 (0.40:1.05)	0.58 (0.40:1.10)	0.01
Ferritin1		429.40 (200.00:957.00)	269.00 (125.80:550.00)	300.00 (132.80:590.00)	0.001
C-reactive protein1		60.60 (32.00:64.00)	44.90 (7.00:64.00)	45.00 (8.25:64.00)	0.02

¹Data are presented as median (interquartile range). COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; AST: Aspartate transaminase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; IQR: Interquartile range; CT: Computed tomography; ICU: Intensive care unit; BMI: Body mass index; GIT: Gastrointestinal tract.

Table 6 Multivariate analysis for factors associated with mortality

Variable	B	P value	adjusted OR	95% confidence interval for OR
				Lower	Upper
Vitamin C intake	-2.960	0.002	0.05	0.008	0.337
Lung consolidation	1.513	0.030	4.540	1.155	17.840
ICU admission	3.220	< 0.001	25.032	7.110	88.128
FIB-4 score levels		0.001
FIB-4 index levels (1.45:3.25)	0.054	0.921	1.055	0.368	3.025
Fib-4 index levels (above 3.25)	2.341	0.001	10.393	2.459	43.925
Constant	-4.821		0.008

ICU: Intensive care unit; FIB-4: Fibrosis-4; OR: Odds ratio.

Table 7 Features of patients with and without gastrointestinal manifestations, n (%)

Variable		Respiratory, n = 369 (86.02)	Respiratory and GIT, n = 60 (13.98)	Total	P value
Age	< 18	2 (0.5)	0 (0.0)	2 (0.5)	0.12
	18:60	271 (73.4)	51 (85.0)	322 (75.1)
	> 60	96 (26.0)	9 (15.0)	105 (24.5)
Gender	Male	210 (56.9)	22 (36.7)	232 (54.1)	0.004
	Female	159 (43.1)	38 (63.3)	197 (45.9)
BMI median (IQR)		25.96 (23.34:31.25)	29.02 (26.91:33.36)	27.76 (23.74:32.01)	0.04
Cigarette smoking		15 (18.3)	6 (18.2)	21 (18.3)	1.00
Diabetes mellitus		103 (27.9)	18 (30.0)	121 (28.2)	0.74
Hypertension		101 (27.4)	21 (35.0)	122 (28.4)	0.22
Pulmonary diseases		5 (1.4)	0 (0.0)	5 (1.2)	0.36
Symptoms	Fever	255 (69.1)	44 (73.3)	299 (69.7)	0.51
	Headache	124 (33.6)	34 (56.7)	158 (36.8)	0.001
	Dry cough	252 (68.3)	35 (58.3)	287 (66.9)	0.13
	Dyspnea	154 (41.7)	24 (40.0)	178 (41.5)	0.80
	Sore throat	68 (18.4)	20 (33.3)	88 (20.5)	0.008
Steroids		101 (27.4)	24 (40.0)	125 (29.1)	0.05
Lactoferrin		28 (7.6)	18 (30.0)	46 (10.7)	<0.001
Hydroxy-chloroquine		101 (27.4)	31 (51.7)	132 (30.8)	<0.001
Chloroquine sulfate		200 (54.2)	24 (40.0)	224 (52.2)	0.04
Vitamin C		201 (54.5)	50 (83.3)	251 (58.5)	<0.001
Azithromycin		80 (21.7)	33 (55.0)	113 (26.3)	<0.001
Other parenteral antibiotics		149 (40.4)	36 (60.0)	185 (43.1)	0.004
Subcutaneous heparin		186 (50.4)	22 (36.7)	208 (48.5)	0.05
Oral anticoagulants		20 (5.4)	13 (21.7)	33 (7.7)	<0.001
COVID-19 disease Classification	Mild	122 (33.2)	16 (26.7)	138 (32.2)	0.03
	Moderate	137 (37.2)	34 (56.7)	171 (40.0)
	Severe	53 (14.4)	6 (10.0)	59 (13.8)
	Critical	56 (15.2)	4 (6.7)	60 (14.0)
Outcome	Recovery	320 (87.2)	56 (93.3)	376 (88.1)	0.17
	Death	47(12.8)	4 (6.7)	51(11.9)
CT chest	Normal	91 (25.0)	11 (19.3)	102 (24.2)	0.35
	Abnormal	273 (75.0)	46 (80.7)	319 (75.8)
Lug consolidation		61 (17.0)	4 (7.1)	65 (15.7)	0.06
ICU admission		111 (30.2)	10 (16.7)	121 (28.3)	0.03
Fibrosis 4-score	< 1.45	202 (64.7)	34 (64.2)	236 (64.7)	0.99
	1.45:3.25	81 (26.0)	14 (26.4)	95 (26.0)
	> 3.25	29 (9.3)	5 (9.4)	34 (9.3)
Creatinine	Normal	319 (86.4)	53 (88.3)	372 (86.7)	0.89
	1-2 UNL	41 (11.1)	7 (11.7)	48 (11.2)
	2-3 UNL	2 (0.5)	0 (0.0)	2 (0.5)
	> 3UNL	7 (1.9)	0 (0.0)	7 (1.6)
Urea	Normal	226 (75.8)	46 (85.2)	272 (77.3)	0.49
	1-2 UNL	57 (19.1)	7 (13.0)	64 (18.2)
	2-3 UNL	7 (2.3)	1 (1.9)	8 (2.3)
	> 3UNL	8 (2.7)	0 (0.0)	8 (2.3)
Estimated-GFR	< 15	7 (1.9)	0 (0.0)	7 (1.6)	0.84
	15:29	5 (1.4)	1 (1.7)	6 (1.4)
	30:44	17 (4.6)	1 (1.7)	18 (4.2)
	45:59	42 (11.4)	8 (13.3)	50 (11.7)
	60:89	135 (36.6)	21 (35.0)	156 (36.4)
	≥ 90	163 (44.2)	29 (48.3)	192 (44.8)
Hemoglobin (gm/L)		12.80 (12.00:14.00)	12.05 (11.00:13.35)	12.60 (12.00:13.90)	0.02
White blood cell count (× 109)		5.30 (4.35:8.40)	5.00 (3.63:7.08)	5.00 (4.40:7.60)	0.12
Neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio		3.71 (1.91:6.81)	4.20 (2.13:6.83)	3.11 (1.56:6.16)	0.85
Platelet count		213.00 (175.50:282.50)	225.50 (187.00:278.25)	208.00 (184.00:272.00)	0.87
AST		29.00 (20.00:44.00)	26.00 (17.00:45.63)	28.00 (19.00:43.00)	0.63
ALT		28.00 (19.00:46.00)	27.00 (18.00:55.50)	27.00 (18.00:46.00)	0.96
Alkaline phosphatase		86.50 (70.00:112.25)	99.00 (78.00:117.00)	89.00 (71.00:114.50)	0.18
Total bilirubin		0.80 (0.55:0.90)	0.90 (0.65:1.20)	0.80 (0.60:1.13)	0.06
Serum albumin		4.20 (3.80:4.50)	4.20 (3.70:4.40)	4.20 (3.80:4.50)	0.75
D-dimer		0.58 (0.40:1.10)	0.60 (0.40:1.22)	0.58 (0.40:1.10)	0.08
Ferritin		317.80 (156.10:615.90)	350.00 (112.50:723.98)	300.00 (132.80:590.00)	0.93
C-reactive protein		47.34 (13.81:64.00)	40.00 (7.00:64.00)	45.00 (8.25:64.00)	0.48

AST: Aspartate transaminase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; CT: computed tomography; COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; BMI: Body mass index; QR: Interquartile range; GIT: Gastrointestinal tract.