C-reactive protein (CRP) at admission: is it really usefull in COVID-19 pneumonia?

Abstract

The aim was to estimate the diagnostic and prognostic role of CRP on admission in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. <b>Materials and methods:</b> 85 patients (age – 58 (52; 65), men – 40 (47,0 %)) hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, divided into 3 groups: group 1 – 50 patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia, group 2 – 28 patients with severe, group 3 – 7 patients with critical. Determination of CRP at admission before antibacterial treatment. <b>Results:</b> At admission the level of CRP was higher than norm (0–6 mg/l) in 81 (95,2%) of patients, the highest&nbsp;- at critical course where it exceeds the norm more than in 16 times (р1-3=0,000, р2-3=0,03). 48 patients had progression of COVID-19 pneumonia in dynamic with increased respiratory failure. Mostly of them (68 or 80,6%) had CRP higher than 50 mg/l,&nbsp;which&nbsp;was proved by ROC-analysis. Analysis shows the powerful connection between CRP more than 53 mg/l at admission and disease progression (OR=9.667; CI=95% (1.42; 17.60); p&lt;0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> 1) significantly increase of the CRP more than 100 mg/l at admission of COVID-19 pneumonia patient is associated with critical course of disease and could be the parameter for ICU hospitalization for itself; 2) in moderate and severe hospitalized patients CRP could be the predictor of disease progression: increased level of CRP at admission more than 53 mg/l is associated with rather 10 times higher risk of disease progression.