Alteration of lipid profile and value of lipids in the prediction of the length of hospital stay in COVID‐19 pneumonia patients

To observe lipid profiles and their alterations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (NCP) and evaluate the value of lipids for the prediction of the length of hospital stay (LOS), a total of 248 patients aged 18 years or older were enrolled in this retrospective study. At admission, the median levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in all patients were 1.11, 4.00, 0.89, and 2.11 mmol/L, respectively. Compared with common cases (<i>n</i> = 174), severe cases (<i>n</i> = 74) exhibited higher TG and HDL-C, and lower LDL-C. Levels of TC and LDL-C were negatively correlated with LOS. In 68 severe cases, serum lipids were followed up during hospitalization, and the median LOS was 29 days. The average levels of serum lipids were lowest at admission and gradually increased during hospitalization. Compared with the LOS ≤ 29 days group, serum levels of TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C were significantly lower in the LOS > 29 days group at admission; this lower trend was found in the subsequent tests for TC and LDL-C but not for HDL-C or TG. Multiple-variant COX regression showed that levels of TC or LDL-C at admission were independent risk of LOS prolongation. Together, these findings suggest that in patients with NCP, levels of TC and LDL-C at admission were negatively correlated with LOS. In severe cases, the gradual increase in TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C during hospitalization might indicate gradual recovery. TC < 3.75 mmol/L or LDL-C < 1.7 mmol/L at admission may act as an independent predictor of prolonged LOS.