Inflammatory Marker Variations in Predicting Deaths in COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Patients with coronavirus illness experienced a cytokine storm as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in 2019. (COVID-19). The goal of the study was to ascertain the predictive value of pro-inflammatory cytokines with regard to the overall prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Methods. This study was conducted by the Department of Microbiology, Santosh Medical College & Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh from April to July 2021. We followed 189 patients hospitalized for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 from the day of hospitalization to the day of discharge or death. We measured serum IL-6, CRP, D - Dimer, Ferritin levels upon admission and correlated these results with clinical and laboratory markers of disease severity and with disease outcome. Results. Most of the patients were males and greater than 60 years of age. The mean ferritin level prior to the terminal event (survival or death) among non-survivors was 746 ng/mL as compared to 294 ng/mL among survivors and this difference was statistically significant (p-value <0.05). A decrease in ferritin levels prior to the terminal event (survival or death) and at admission were associated with a greater probability of survival. Ferritin levels prior to the terminal event were more strongly correlated with death than ferritin levels at baseline. Mean CRP level at admission among non-survivors was 69 mg/L as compared to 283 mg/L among survivors and this difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Conclusion. In patients with COVID-19, inflammatory markers have prognostic value, with higher levels being associated with worse outcomes.