ABSTRACT
Background: Most COVID-19 patients experience a mild form of the disease, but there is a certain percentage of patients who progress to a very severe disease state that requires intensive care and invasive ventilation. In order to ensure better patient management and improved outcomes, early identification of patients who may be at a higher risk of severe infection can play an important role. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the mean procalcitonin (PCT) level and comorbidity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods and Results: A total of 231 COVID-19-positive patients aged between 20 and 82 years (170[73.6 %] males and 61[26.4%] females) were included in this study. Serum PCT was accessed by procalcitonin assay using the Beckman Coulter UniCel DxI 800 instrument. All patients were classified into 5 groups according to age: 20-29 years-20(8.7%), 30-39 years-47(20.3%), 40-49 years-72(31.2%), 50-59 years-48(20.8%) and >60years-44(19.0%). Eighty-seven (37.7%) patients had no chronic disease, while 144(62.3%) had comorbidities: hypertension (37[16.0%]), diabetes mellitus (44[19.0%]), a combination of diabetes mellitus with hypertension (32[13.9%]), asthma (6[2.6%]), hyperlipidemia (4[1.7%]), renal disease (1[0.4%]), and COPD (1[0.4%]). COVID-19 patients with diabetes in combination with hypertension had a statistically greater PCT level than COVID-19 patients without comorbidities (P=0.0273). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean PCT levels between other comorbidities. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean PCT level between different age categories (P=0.7390). The serum PCT measurement could evaluate the prognosis of the disease in some COVID-19 patients. © 2022, International Medical Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: Fast and accurate diagnosis plays an important role in controlling and further preventing COVID-19. This study was conducted in the Thumbay laboratory of Gulf Medical University (Ajman, UAE) to assess the correlations between DPI (Diffractive Phase Interferometry), COVID-19 RT-PCR, and CRP tests in COVID-19 patients of different ages and to compare the effectiveness of each parameter. Methods and Results: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 150 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to the Thumbay University Hospital. Their general data was collected from the LDM system, and from among the suspected patients who came to do the RT-PCR test, 230 were selected as volunteers to participate in this study, and further laboratory tests like CRP level and DPI test were done for them. The nasal swab was collected for a PCR test. Out of 230 nasal swab samples, 150 were positive and 80 were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by real-time RT-PCR assay. Among the 150 positive RT-PCR, 90 false negative DPI tests were from a sample with a high real-time RT-PCR. While 60 true positive DPI tests were positive real-time RT-PCR for swab specimens. Among the 80 negative RT-PCR, 79 were true negative and 1 was a false positive. The predictive positive value of the DPI test was 40% and the predictive negative value of the test was 98%. DPI has at least one tie between the positive actual state group and the negative actual state group. The results show weak and moderate positive correlations between CRP and the age groups. Conclusion: The combined detection of the three indicators (RT-PCR, DPI, and CRP) are positively related to COVID-19 infection;therefore, these indicators will enable effective intervention measures to be implemented in time and the rates of severe illness and mortality to be reduced. © 2022, International Medical Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-Cov-2, a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan city, China, has spread worldwide, causing severe illnesses and a high mortality rate. Many studies have shown the association of elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers, such as ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP), with the severe course of coronavirus disease The aim of this research was to investigate the association between CRP and ferritin levels, and the severity of COVID-19. Methods and Results: This cross-sectional study was performed in Thumbay Hospital, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, from January 2021 to October 2021. A total of 100 COVID-19 positive patients were included in this study. Serum CRP and ferritin were measured by immunoturbidimetric assay. We found statistically significant differences between ferritin levels and disease severity (P=0.005), age category (P=0.030), and the clinical wards (P=0.016). Statistically significant differences were found between the ferritin levels in mild to moderate cases (P=0.023) and mild to severe cases (P.007). There were significant differences in CRP in mild to moderate cases (P 4).012), and in mild to severe cases (P=0.000). Thus, the results obtained showed that CRP and ferritin levels are considerably greater in severe cases than in mild and moderate cases of COVID-19. The findings of the current study indicate that CRP and serum ferritin levels might be considered as an essential indication of the progression and severity of COVID-19.