Can ferritin/lymphocyte percentage ratio, a new indicator, predict the clinical course of COVID-19 cases?

Abstract

COVID-19 maintains its seriousness as a global emergency with its rapid distribution worldwide. Ferritin/lymphocyte percentage ratio (FLPR) may appear as a prognostic value at the initial evaluation stage and thus can be used as a simple, effective and reliable parameter in identification of patients critically ill with COVID-19.In this retrospective cohort study we evaluated patients who were hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19 based on positive PCR results. We calculated FLPRs and classified disease severity due to initial emergency evaluation. The relationship between the severity of the need for hospitalization and intensive care, and 28-day mortality with FLPR were evaluated.The differences between the groups as for COVID-19 severity and FLPR means were statistically significant (x2=148.284; SD=3; p=0.000). FLPR levels were found to be high in groups with critically and seriously ill patients. In the ROC analysis for the FLPR level, the area under the curve (AUC) value was found to be 0.909 (95 % CI 0.857-0.961). When the cut‑off value of FLPR was 21.11, the sensitivity and specificity were 82.9 % and 82.8 %, respectively.FLPR, a new parameter, can be used as a significant marker to predict the 28-day mortality patients (Tab. 6, Fig. 1, Ref. 25). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: COVID-19, percentage of lymphocytes, ferritin, FLPR, disease severity, emergency department.