Predictive Value of RDW/PLT for Progression of COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Potential Biomarker for Disease Severity

Abstract

Identifying reliable predictors for COVID-19 pneumonia progression is crucial for effective patient management. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Red Cell Distribution Width to Platelet Ratio (RDW/PLT) as a potential predictive biomarker for the development of moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Conducting a retrospective analysis from August 2021 to March 2023, we categorized patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia at admission into different severity groups. The objective was to explore clinical and laboratory variables associated with disease progression. Fifty-three patients initially diagnosed with moderate COVID-19 were studied, of which 17 progressed to severe disease. Univariate logistic regression analyzed various factors, including age, PLT, RDW-SD, RDW/PLT, AST, ALB, CRP, and IL-6, evaluating their correlation (P < 0.05) with higher odds ratios of a poor prognosis. To ascertain these factors’ predictive power, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used. Univariate logistic regression highlighted several factors associated with increased odds ratios for poor prognosis. Notably, RDW/PLT exhibited the highest predictive value (AUC: 0.925, 95% CI 0.858–0.991) among single parameters in predicting the risk of COVID-19 progression. This study underscores the potential of RDW/PLT as an accessible and cost-effective biomarker for determining COVID-19 pneumonia severity. The findings support its utility in risk stratification and clinical decision-making, offering valuable insights for effective patient management strategies.