Inflammatory Markers as Predictors of Severity and Mortality in Coronavirus Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a pandemic that demands swift, in-depth, and well-grounded research work. WHO (World Health Organization) has declared around 1 million deaths and confirmed about 35 million cases worldwide. Aim: To predict the role of three inflammatory markers (serum ferritin, C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase) in severity and mortality in patients with corona virus disease patients admitted in the hospital. Methodology: Patients with traceable SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were inducted into this study by simple random sampling. Patients with potential radiological scans but without positive SARS were not included in this study. The nasopharyngeal sample technique was used to check the presence of the virus. This viral load’s severity was checked via World Health Organization recommendations. All the information including the sociodemographic data, severity of disease and laboratory values of three inflammatory markers gathered on a semi structured proforma designed for the study. Study Design: A Cross-Sectional study. Place and Duration: Isra University Hospital from 1st June 2021 to 31st December 2021. Results: A 240 patients were included in the study; aged between 20 and 60 years. The values of the three inflammatory markers were found raised in the group of patients being studied (more frequently within the moderate and severe disease groups). C - reactive protein was raised in 122 patients, ferritin was raised in 83 patients and Lactate dehydrogenase was raised in 184 patients Conclusion: Measuring the values of CRP, LDH, and Ferritin at admission can be a reliable predictor of severity and mortality in SARs-CoV-2. Out of the three, ferritin is the best indicator and should be considered essential.