Associations of Galectin-3 with Laboratory Biomarkers and Electrocardiographic Parameters in Acute and Post-COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background. Despite substantial reductions in COVID-19 mortality following widespread vaccination and the predominance of Omicron variants, SARS-CoV-2 infection continues to pose a significant threat to vulnerable populations and remains associated with long-term complications. Increasing evidence indicates that hematological, biochemical, and cardiovascular abnormalities contribute to disease progression and post-COVID sequelae. However, the combined clinical significance of routine laboratory markers, electrocardiographic findings, and Galectin-3 - a biomarker involved in inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling - remains unclear.

Objectives. To determine the associations between hematological and biochemical biomarkers, electrocardiographic parameters, and Galectin-3 levels across different stages of COVID-19 progression, including the post-COVID-19 period.

Methods. We enrolled 86 participants: 61 with acute COVID-19 and 25 with post-COVID-19. We classified participants as moderate (n=21), severe (n=20), critical (n=20), or post-COVID (n=25). We assessed clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic parameters. We measured serum galectin-3 levels using ELISA. We used correlation, linear regression, and logistic regression.

Results. Galectin-3 showed significant positive correlations with age, BMI, respiratory rate, body temperature, leukocyte count, ferritin, and LDH, while demonstrating a negative correlation with oxygen saturation. Exploratory analyses suggested potential associations between Galectin-3 and selected markers of organ injury and coagulation in some patient subgroups, including the post-COVID-19 group. Electrocardiographic analysis demonstrated significant correlations between Galectin-3 and P-wave duration, T-wave duration, PR interval, and QTc interval, suggesting potential alterations in electrophysiological profiles associated with higher Galectin-3 concentrations.

Conclusions. Persistent associations observed during the post-COVID-19 period may reflect ongoing inflammatory or remodeling-related processes; however, further longitudinal studies incorporating imaging-based assessments are required to determine their clinical significance. Galectin-3 may represent a potential biomarker associated with disease severity and persistent biological alterations after COVID-19, although its prognostic value and role in patient risk stratification require validation in larger prospective studies.