Association of Inflammatory Markers with the Severity of COVID-19 in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bagalkot, India - A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND A novel coronavirus was identified as being responsible for a cluster of pneumonia cases worldwide. With an upward trajectory of (corona virus disease-19) COVID-19 cases and its numerous presentations, there is an urgent requirement of identifying initial signs of decline of quality and an adequate response in order to shift a patient to specialized intensive care units (ICU) for those who progress morbidly to severe or critical categories. It has been reported that various acute phase reactants like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and D-dimer are raised much more in severe and critical patients than in the mild cases. These markers might have a role to predict mortality. The present study was done to assess the relationship of serum ferritin, and CRP levels at admission with in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19 infection and to determine cut-off values of the best prediction of mortality. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 109 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted in our hospital was done. The outcome of cases was categorized into mild, moderate and severe grades. RESULTS Out of 109, 80(73.4 %) were males and 29 (26.6 %) were females. Majority patients of both genders were having severe disease with 30 males and females 10 (P - value = 0.066). Among 109 patients, mild cases (33), moderate case (36), severe case (40). Serum ferritin value severe group (n = 49) 422.45 ng/mL, moderate group (n = 33) 563.64 ng/mL, mild group (n = 27) 529.63 ng/mL. Mean ESR value in severe group 98.37, moderate group 100, mild group 100. Mean CRP in severe group 242.86 mg/L, moderate group 248.48 mg/L, mild group 307.41 mg/L. Mean d-dimer in severe group 971.43 ng/mL, moderate group 803.03 ng/mL, mild group 811.11 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed higher levels of markers like ferritin, D-dimer, CRP and ESR in severe patients as compared to mild and helped in forecasting the advancement of mild cases to severe. Also, the blood levels of CRP and ferritin and the duration to complete symptomatic relief all demonstrated a substantial statistical link thus aiding for monitoring of patients at home and in hospitals. KEYWORDS Covid-19, Inflammatory Markers