Relationship Between Viral Load and Laboratory Values and Radiological Findings in Patients with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between the viral load calculated from oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs at diagnosis and the laboratory parameters and radiological findings in patients with Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven patients who were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) from their oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs and admitted to Malatya Turgut Ozal University Hospital were included in the study. Demographic data, laboratory parameters, and the severity of thorax computed tomography findings were recorded. The relationship between the viral load and these data was compared.Results: The mean age of the patients was 63.4 +/- 9.8 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.6 +/- 5.4 kg/m2, and mean cycle threshold (Ct) values were 21.4 +/- 5.2 cycles. No correlation was found between Ct value and gender, age, and BMI. There was a significant relationship between radiological severity and Ct value, age, and gender. There was a significant correlation between the Ct value and C-reactive protein, leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, ferritin, albumin, and calcium levels. In contrast, no significant correlation was found betweenConclusion: The viral load amount shown by PCR during the early period predicts the condition of the patient's lung in the advanced immunological phase. The Ct value can be an independent factor for evaluating the patient's radiological and biochemical status.