The Clinical Significance of SIRT3 in COVID-19 Patients: A Single Center Retrospective Analysis

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 97 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Xiangzhou District in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, China from January 29, 2020 to March 15, 2020. The blood samples of the patients were obtained within 24 hours of admission. The serum levels of SIRT3 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients received a routine whole blood test, blood gas assay, electrolyte analysis, and coagulation analysis, and all data were recorded and collected. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of all patients were collected, including age, BMI, sex, medical history, complications, temperature, and imaging results. RESULTS: The severe COVID-19 patients showed significantly higher mean temperature, hospitalization duration, CT score, and ratio of cough, fatigue, dyspnea, and ground glass lesions on CT, as well as significantly higher levels of C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and D-dimer. SIRT3 levels were markedly lower in the severe patients compared with the mild/moderate patients and were negatively correlated with the levels of CRP and PCT. Patients with lower SIRT3 showed significantly higher temperature, duration, ratio of ground glass lesion on CT, and CT score, as well as higher expression of CRP and APTT. The ROC curve showed that SIRT3 had the potential for the prediction of different severities of COVID-19. The binary regression analysis showed that temperature, hospitalization, CT score, CRP, PCT, APTT, and D-dimer were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Serum SIRT3 levels were associated with the clinical outcome and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. However, SIRT3 is not an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19.