INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 on hepatic lipid (HL) content, fibrosis risk, and adiposity in persons with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants with type 2 diabetes with a history of mild COVID-19 (n=15, age 58±12 years, body mass index 30.9±5.2 kg/m RESULTS: COVID-19 resulted in a relative increase in HL content of 56% (95% CI 18%, 106%
p=0.04) measured as proton density fat fraction (HL-PDFF), corrected for the time course in the absence of COVID-19. While no changes in hepatic stiffness and volume, intramyocellular lipids, whole-body, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue volumes as well as homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and beta-cell function were observed. CONCLUSIONS: History of COVID-19 in persons with type 2 diabetes is associated with higher HL-PDFF after 1 year following recovery from infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01055093.