ABSTRACT
Background: Novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become a public emergency that is characterized by a dysregulated immune response and hypercoagulable state. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate NOTCH and tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) levels in COVID-19-infected patients and assess their predictive value on the severity of the disease. Methods: A total of 116 severe-critical COVID-19 patients who were interned intensive care were included in the study. The severity of the disease was evaluated according to the WHO classification system. Patients were divided into two groups according to their cTroponin T (cTnT) levels. Patients who had cTnT levels at least five times the upper limit of normal constituted Group 1 (n = 58);patients who had normal cTnT levels constituted Group 2 (n = 58). Besides, 62 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, who applied to cardiology outward clinic were taken as a control group (Group 3). All patients underwent echocardiographic examination. NOTCH and TACE levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The average age of the patients was 59.96 +/- 15.46 years, 92 (51.7%) were female and 86 (48.3%) were male. The mean length of hospital stay was 16.35 +/- 10.97 days. NOTCH levels were significantly higher in Group 1 patients compared to Group 2 and control group of patients P = 0.001). NOTCH levels of Group 2 were significantly higher compared to the control group (P = 0.002). Similarly, the TACE levels of Group 1 were significantly higher than that of Group 2 and the control group (P = 0.001). Mortality and length of hospital stay were significantly higher in Group 1 patients compared to Group 2 patients (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004, respectively). TACE levels of deceased patients were significantly higher than that of live patients (P = 0.004). There was a positive relationship between the length of hospital stay and NOTCH levels in Group 1 patients (r = 0.527, P = 0.003). TACE and NOTCH levels were positively correlated with troponin levels (r = 0.627 and r = 0.671, respectively P < 0.001 for both). NOTCH value of 0.34 nmol/L and TACE value of 6.53 mu g/mL predicted inhospital mortality with a sensitivity of 90.30% and 63.6% and specificity of 91.5% and 78.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Measurement of NOTCH and TACE levels during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection could be helpful for risk stratification.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Although there are few studies on the predictive value of C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies specifically conducted in COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study assessed the use of baseline CAR levels to predict death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with CVD. Methods: This study was designed as a single-center cross-sectional study. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to the University of Health Sciences Turkey, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital between April 16 and May 20, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those who died and those who survived, considering the follow-up period. The CAR values of the study population, as well as patients with CVD, were calculated, and the association of CAR with in-hospital mortality was evaluated. Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 11.1% (49/442 pts) in all populations. Deceased patients had significantly more frequent CVD (p<0.001) and the mortality rate was 34.4% (30/96 pts) in those patients. Median CAR values were higher in nonsurvivors than among survivors (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CAR was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with CVD [hazard ratio 1.013 (95% confidence interval: 1.002-1.022), p=0.018]. Conclusion: CAR is an inflammatory risk marker that independently predicts mortality in all COVID-19 hospitalized patients and patients with CVD.