Abstract
BackgroundTo assess the existence of association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the risk of sarcopenia in COVID-19 patients. MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital with patients with an active COVID-19 infection admitted to the nursing ward or intensive care unit (ICU) between September to December 2020. Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the Strength, Assistance for walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls (SARC-F). Biochemical analyses were assessed by circulating of C-reactive protein, D-dimer, neutrophils, lymphocytes count and NLR. Sixty-eight patients were evaluated and divided into tertiles of NLR values and the association between NLR and sarcopenia risk were tested using the linear regression analyses and p<0.05 were considered as significant. ResultsSixty-eight patients were evaluated and divided in NLR tertiles being the 1st (men=52.2%; 71.1±9.0 y; NLR: 1.1–3.85), 2nd (women=78.3%; 73.2±9.1 y; NLR: 3.9–6.0) and 3rd (men=72.7%; 71.7±10.4 y; NLR: 6.5–20.0). There was a difference between the tertiles in relation to the first to the biochemical parameters of total neutrophils count (p=0.001), C-reactive protein (p=0.012), and D-dimer (p=0.012). However, no difference was found in linear regression analysis between tertiles of NLR and SARC-F, if in total sample (p=0.054) or divided by sex, if men (p=0.369) or women (p=0.064). ConclusionIn elderly patients hospitalized with COVID-19, we do not find an association between the risk of sarcopenia and NLR.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call