General characteristics of patients included in the COVID-19-LT cohort versus patients in the COVID-19-immunocompetent cohort
| COVID-19-LT group (n=35) | COVID-19-immunocompetent group (n=35) | P value | |
| General information | |||
| Age in years, mean±SD | 56.7±13.6 | 60.7±13.9 | 0.223 |
| Male gender, n (%) | 25 (71.4) | 22 (62.9) | 0.445 |
| Ethnicity, n (%) | 0.208 | ||
| Caucasian | 31 (88.6) | 34 (97.1) | |
| African | 3 (8.6) | 0 (0) | |
| Asian | 1 (2.9) | 1 (2.9) | |
| History of smoking, n (%) | 6 (17.1) | 1 (2.9) | 0.023 |
| BMI in kg/m2, n (%) | 0.028 | ||
| 18–24.9 | 21 (60) | 10 (28.6) | |
| 24.9–29.9 | 8 (22.9) | 16 (45.7) | |
| >30 | 6 (17.1) | 9 (25.7) | |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Hypertension | 14 (40.0) | 14 (40.0) | 1.000 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 (31.4) | 3 (8.6) | 0.017 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 4 (11.4) | 4 (11.4) | 1.000 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 9 (25.7) | 1 (2.9) | 0.006 |
| Chronic lung disease | 2 (5.7) | 3 (8.6) | 0.643 |
| Present malignancy | 2 (5.7) | 1 (2.9) | 0.555 |
| Chronic liver disease | 35 (100) | 0 (0) | |
| COVID-19-related data | |||
| COVID-19-related symptoms, n (%) | |||
| Fever | 15 (42.9) | 33 (94.3) | <0.001 |
| Cough | 18 (51.4) | 22 (62.9) | 0.404 |
| Dyspnoea | 11 (31.4) | 24 (68.6) | 0.003 |
| Fatigue | 21 (60.0) | 30 (85.7) | 0.024 |
| Anosmia/dysgeusia | 5 (14.3) | 7 (20.0) | 0.600 |
| Gastrointestinal | 8 (22.9) | 14 (40.0) | 0.142 |
| Other | 7 (20.0) | 14 (40.0) | 0.094 |
| COVID-19 therapy, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Antiviral | 1 (2.9) | 16 (45.7) | |
| Chloroquine | 0 (0.0) | 13 (37.1) | |
| Steroids | 2 (5.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Antibiotics | 3 (8.6) | 12 (34.3) | |
| Bacterial superinfection, n (%) | 2 (5.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Highest level of medical support, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Hospitalisation<5 days | 30 (85.7) | 11 (31.4) | |
| Hospitalisation>5 days | 4 (11.4) | 24 (68.6) | |
| Intensive care unit | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Concomitant medication | |||
| ACE inhibitors | 4 (11.4) | 3 (8.6) | 0.690 |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers | 7 (20) | 6 (17.1) | |
| NSAIDs | 4 (11.4) | 0 (0) | |
| Serology-related data | |||
| Positive IgG antibodies against nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2, n (%) | 28 (80) | 35 (100) | 0.005 |
| IgG index level, median (IQR) | 3.73 (1.67–5.1) | 7.36 (6.58–8.19) | <0.001 |
| Positive total-Ig antibodies against spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, n (%) | 34 (97.1) | 35 (100) | 0.314 |
| Presence of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, n (%) | 29 (82.9) | 29 (100)* | 0.024 |
| Neutralising antibody titre, median (IQR) | 60 (12.5–120) | 80 (50–120)* | 0.135 |
| Weeks from COVID-19 diagnosis to sampling, median (IQR) | 6.3 (5.6–9.35) | 6.9 (5.35–7.55) | 0.495 |
*Number of analysed patients=29.
ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; BMI, body mass index; LT, liver transplant; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .