Level of oxidized low-density lipoproteins in the blood of diabetic patients after COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 infection (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) is associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular complications. It has been proven that a high content of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and, especially, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) causes cholesterol accumulation in blood vessel walls and significantly increases the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Aim. The aim of the work was to determine oxLDL content in the blood of 82 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), who had a coronavirus infection between 2020 and 2022. Material and methods. Blood was obtained by standard venipuncture and stored in EDTA tubes. Plasma was separated by centrifugation for 10 min after blood collection. Samples were stored at -80
°C until use. OxLDL was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (Elabscience, USA). Results. It was shown that oxLDL level in the blood of patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) and, especially, patients who had recovered from COVID-19, was significantly higher than in the blood of healthy people. There is also a significant difference between patients with mild and severe forms of COVID-19. In the absence of treatment with hypoglycemic drugs in patients who had recovered from COVID-19, the level of oxLDL increases significantly, especially in the absence of insulin treatment. The effect of treatment was more pronounced in patients with COVID-19, and when treated with inhibitors of sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2i), the level of oxLDL decreased almost to control values. Therefore, oxLDL levels remain elevated in diabetic patients who have recovered from COVID-19, although lower than in the acute disease. Conclusions. OxLDL levels in the blood of diabetic patients who have recovered from COVID-19 remain elevated, although lower than in the acute form of the disease. Treatment with hypoglycemic drugs may be a promising strategy to reduce oxLDL levels, and therefore the risk of atherosclerosis, in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. OxLDL levels may be an important marker of post-COVID syndrome.