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Serum biomarkers for prediction of mortality in patients with COVID-19
Rohit S Loomba1,2, Enrique G Villarreal3, Juan S Farias3
1Department of Pediatric Critical Care, Advocate Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, IL, USA.
Insights
Biomarker levels significantly differed between COVID-19 patients who survived and those who died. Elevated white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and ferritin were associated with mortality, while lymphocyte and platelet counts were lower in non-survivors.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Limited data exists on using biomarker levels to predict mortality in COVID-19 patients.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for managing the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum biomarker levels in hospitalized COVID-19 adults who survived versus those who did not.
- To identify key biomarkers associated with COVID-19 mortality.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries.
- Included studies focused on blood counts, liver function tests, inflammatory markers, cytokines, and cardiac biomarkers.
- Pooled analysis of 10 studies involving 1584 patients.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated biomarkers in non-survivors included white blood cell count, neutrophils, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimer, IL-6, LDH, CK, PT, AST, ALT, bilirubin, and creatinine.
- Lower levels of lymphocytes, platelets, and albumin were observed in patients who died.
- These findings highlight distinct biomarker profiles between survivors and non-survivors.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in admission biomarkers exist between COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors.
- Further research is needed to develop risk stratification models for resource allocation.
- Biomarker analysis can aid in predicting outcomes for critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Background:
There is limited information regarding the role of biomarker levels at predicting mortality in patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study is to determine the differences in serum biomarker levels in adults with COVID-19 who survived hospitalization from those who did not.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was completed on PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries to identify studies of interest. Endpoints of interest were blood counts, hepatic function test, acute phase reactants, cytokines and cardiac biomarkers.
Results:
A total of 10 studies with 1584 patients were included in the pooled analyses. Biomarkers that were noted to be significantly higher in those who died from coronavirus disease included: white blood cell count, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimer, interleukin-6, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, prothrombin time, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and creatinine. Lymphocyte count, platelet count and albumin were significantly lower in patients who died.
Conclusion:
This pooled analysis of 10 studies including 1584 patients identified significant differences in biomarkers on admission in patients who survived from those who did not. Further research is needed to develop risk stratification models to help with judicious use of limited health-care resources.
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