Liver biochemistry abnormality or injury (LBAI) and acute liver
injury (ALI)
COVID-19-related liver injury was
divided into three stages as per the Chinese Guideline for
COVID-19-related liver injury12. Stage 0, normal
liver
biochemistry (LB), was defined as markers indicating liver function i.e.
ALT, AST, TBIL within normal limits. Stage 1, liver biochemistry
abnormality (LBA), was defined as liver function markers outside the
normal limits but not reaching the thresholds for stage 2. Stage 2, ALI,
was defined as an ALT or AST increase of ≥3 times the upper limit of
normal, or TBIL increase of ≥2 times the upper limit of normal. In our
study, LBAI was defined as either stage 1 or stage 2. Worsening of LB
was defined as any stage elevation during hospitalization. Cases were
excluded from the study if no data on ALT, AST and total bilirubin
(TBIL) were available.