Abstract:
Background: Malaria poses a public health problem because it affects multiple organs. It
is multi-syndromal and often manifests itself as anemia, renal dysfunction, Jaundice, and
liver dysfunction. The extent of serum lipid profile and liver function parameters change
in level of parasitemia among malaria-infected patients remain unknown.
Objective: To assess malaria parasitemia and its association with liver function
parameters and lipid profile in Assosa town public health institutions among malaria infected adult patients from December 23/2021 to March 4/2022.
Methods: Institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of
302 study participants (151 malaria infected and 151 health controls) were included and
selected by consecutive sampling technique. Five ml of venous blood was collected from
all individuals and liver function parameters and lipid profile were determined by Cobas
311 clinical chemistry analyzer. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using
structured questionnaires and entered using EpiData version 4.6. Descriptive statistics,
Pearson’s Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA were done using STATA version 14. The
accepted level of significance for all statistical analyses was p ≤ 0.05 and the result was
presented using tables, graphs, and texts.
Result: A total of 302 study participants 212(70.2%) males and 90(29.8 %) females were
included. Majority of malaria patients were infected with P. falciparum, 107(70.86%).
According to parasitic density, 30.46%, 46.36%, and 23.18% of patients were reported
with low, moderate, and high parasitemia respectively. The mean value of aspartate
aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, serum bilirubin’s was
significantly higher in malaria patients than in apparently healthy controls (p<0.001), but
the mean value of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower in malaria patients than controls (p<0.05).
Conclusion and Recommendation: Malaria patients showed significant alterations of
liver function parameters and lipid profile compared to apparently healthy controls. So
Liver function parameters and lipid profile should be done together with early diagnosis
of malaria infection in order to prevent complications.
