A cross-sectional study of laboratory parameters 5–6 months after the first COVID-19 infection

Zore, Taja (author), Lojk, Jasna (author), Reberšek, Katarina (author), Božnar Alič, Elizabeta (author), Čegovnik Primožič, Urška (author), France Štiglic, Alenka (author), Jerin, Aleš (author), Prodan Žitnik, Irena (author), Podgornik, Helena (author), Snoj, Nada (author), Ostanek, Barbara (author), Turel, Gabriele (author), Lejko-Zupanc, Tatjana (author), Marc, Janja (author), Černe, Darko (author)

Objectives: Despite extensive study of COVID-19 disease, only a few studies also addressed the aftermath of the disease and potential long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 resolution through the cross-sectional analysis of an extensive range of haematological and biochemical laboratory parameters and to find potential markers still associated with disease severity 5-6-months post infection. Methods: In this study, we analysed 92 routine biochemical, haematological and immunological parameters in 75 non-vaccinated patients 5–6 months after recorded first time SARS-CoV-2 infection without reinfection. Demographic and disease severity data were obtained through surveys. Results: The majority of analysed parameters were within the normal reference intervals, however, statistically significant correlations with the disease severity were detected in 15 parameters: B lymphocytes, NK cells, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-1β, cortisol, ferritin, SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgM antibodies, Na, Cl, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, HbA1c and alpha 2 and beta 2 globulin fractions of the proteinogram. Conclusions: Although most observed parameters returned to their normal reference intervals, significant correlations were still observed with disease severity, that could indicate either the pre-infection baseline state which affected disease outcome or minor remaining alterations in function of certain organs, pertaining their stress or damage during the acute phase of the disease.

• Language: English
• Keywords: disease severity, laboratory parameters, resolution, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 4, art. e42535
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-168506
• UDC: 542:616.98:578.834
• ISSN on article: 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42535
• COBISS.SI-ID: 232905475
• Publication date in RUL: 16.04.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Heliyon
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2405-8440
• COBISS.SI-ID: 21607432

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: resnost bolezni, laboratorijski parametri, resolucija, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, laboratorijska kemija, laboratorijska medicina