EVALUATION OF INFECTION MARKERS IN THE PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 AT TERTIARY CARE INSTITUTE: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: The outbreak of 2019 Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused global attention. Due to its rapid spread worldwide, COVID-19 was declared as a public health emergency by the World Health Organization. Although most patients have mild symptoms and good prognosis, severe COVID-19 cases may present with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and systemic inammation. Thus, it is to evaluate the disease severity and investigate possible biomarkers so as to make fast and correct clinical decisions. Methods: This is a single center, prospective study conducted at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital Patna. We enrolled 100 OPD and inhospital patients with COVID- 19 admitted to the Nalanda Medical College and Hoapital and analyzed infection biomarkers in covid patients who had been tested for ferritin, PCT, CRP, IL-6 and procalcitonin. Results:Average level of Ferritin in Covid-19 patients is 18746.34 ng/ml whereas in control patients it is around 226.29 ng/ml. Around 97 percent of patients affected with COVID-19 having Ferritin level very high from the referred range. Average level of D-dimer in Covid patients is 2807.16 ng/ml and in non COVID patients 276.04 ng/ml. All the covid patients have D-dimer level very high than the referred range. Average level of Procalcitonin in Covid and control patients is 0.93 and 0.53 ng/ml respectively. Around three fourth of covid patients and one third of control patients have this level higher than the referred range. CRPlevel of COVID patients are very high (on an average 483.48 mg/l) in comparison to non covid patients (on an average 6.29 mg/l). All the covid patients have IL-6 level much higher than the referred range. Conclusion: Our ndings suggest that level of Ferritin, D-dimer, PCT, CRP and IL-6 can be used to predict the result of COVID-19 test. They can help in detection of COVID-19 patients.