Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio-A marker of COVID-19 pneumonia severity.
Int J Clin Pract
; 75(4): e13698, 2021 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-744742
ABSTRACT
AIM:
To determine the efficacy of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker of the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia in the South-Asian population.METHODS:
This was a prospective, cross-sectional, analytic study conducted at HDU/ICU of District Headquarter Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, from May through July 2020. Sixty-three eligible patients, admitted to the HDU/ICU, were prospectively enrolled in the study. Their NLR, C-reactive protein, serum albumin and serum fibrinogen were measured. Patients' demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection, medication use and history of lung malignancy were retrieved from their medical history. Patients were categorised into either a general group (with mild COVID-19) or a heavy group (with moderate to severe COVID-19).RESULTS:
There were significant differences between the two groups in diabetes prevalence, NLR, C-reactive protein and serum albumin. NLR and C-reactive protein were positively correlated (P < .001, P = .04, respectively) whereas serum albumin was negatively correlated (P = .009) with severe COVID-19. NLR was found to be an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 pneumonia in the heavy group (OR = 1.264, 95% CI 1.046~1.526, P = .015). The calculated AUC using ROC for NLR was 0.831, with an optimal limit of 4.795, sensitivity of 0.83 and specificity of 0.75, which is highly suggestive of NLR being a marker for the early detection of deteriorating severe COVID-19 infection.CONCLUSION:
NLR can be used as an early warning signal for deteriorating severe COVID-19 infection and can provide an objective basis for early identification and management of severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Lymphocytes
/
COVID-19
/
Neutrophils
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Clin Pract
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijcp.13698
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS