Impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing liver disease

Patients with chronic liver disease of any etiology who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been found to have a higher risk of mortality compared to those patients who do not have chronic liver disease.A literature review was conducted in the relationship between COVID 19 and preexistence of liver disease.The proportion of COVID-19 patients with abnormal liver function on admission ranged from 40 % to 75 % and the proportion with liver injury was close to 30%.Current studies show an important association between preexisting liver disease and COVID-19.The presence of cirrhosis is now an independent predictor of severity for COVID-19 and prolonged hospitalization in this group of patients.Patients with cirrhosis have a higher mortality rate, and this rate rises with increasing severity.