Do Certain Biomarkers Predict Adverse Outcomes in Coronavirus Disease 2019?

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, rapidly spread globally, leading to a pandemic declaration by the WHO.
• Limited healthcare resources, such as ICU beds and ventilators, necessitated efficient patient management strategies.
• Predictive biomarkers for severe disease and mortality are essential for optimizing resource allocation in COVID-19 patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify laboratory biomarkers that predict severe infection and increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
• To evaluate the predictive value of various laboratory markers associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted across six databases.
• Keywords included "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "Biomarkers", "Mortality", and "Adverse outcomes".
• Studies evaluating laboratory markers for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Several laboratory biomarkers were identified as significantly associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
• These biomarkers demonstrated predictive value for increased risk of severe infection and mortality.
• The identified markers can aid in stratifying patients based on their risk profile.

Conclusions:

• Laboratory biomarkers can serve as valuable tools for identifying COVID-19 patients at high risk of severe outcomes.
• Early identification of high-risk patients enables timely and appropriate allocation of critical care resources.
• Utilizing predictive biomarkers supports proactive management and improves patient outcomes in the context of limited resources.