Biochemical & Hematological parameters to predict severity and mortality in COVID 19 patients – a retrospective study

Authors

Swetha N K, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, IndiaFollow
Kusuma K S, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Shobha C R, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Abhijith D, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Akshay H M, Department of Anaesthesia, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Saniya Khanum, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Preetha Nataraj, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Pavan H S, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Sanjay M S, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Akila Prashant, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India
Suma M N, Department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College& Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, India

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), the global pandemic has posed a serious threat to the health of individuals across the world and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Several biochemical and hematological parameters are found to be altered in these patients and there is a need to identify a suitable biomarker that can help in better risk stratification of these patients. Hence in this study, we intend to evaluate the clinical utility of these parameters to predict severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Material & Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital involving Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 patients (n-322). Data about patient's age, gender, co-morbidities, duration of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, need for mechanical ventilation and laboratory investigations were obtained from the Hospital Information System (HIS).

Results: The average duration of hospital stay was 10 days, and the ICU stay of these patients was 6.5 days.[M1] [DSS2] There was a statistically significant increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), neutrophils, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lower mean lymphocytic count (p=0.05), in patients who required ICU admission when compared to those who didn’t and[M3] [DSS4] also among non-survivors compared to survivors.

Conclusion: Among the various biochemical & hematological markers, CRP, ferritin, LDH AST, and NLR were found to be better predictors of severity and mortality in COVID 19 patients. Timely monitoring of these markers would therefore help in better management and improved outcome for these patients.

Recommended Citation

N K, Swetha; K S, Kusuma; C R, Shobha; D, Abhijith; H M, Akshay; Khanum, Saniya; Nataraj, Preetha; H S, Pavan; M S, Sanjay; Prashant, Akila; and M N, Suma (2022) "Biochemical & Hematological parameters to predict severity and mortality in COVID 19 patients – a retrospective study," International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 11.
DOI: 10.55691/2278-344X.1012
Available at: https://rescon.jssuni.edu.in/ijhas/vol11/iss1/11