The predictive role of biomarkers for mortality in COVID-19 patients

Many biomarkers are used in addition to radiologic examinations to determine the severity of COVID-19. This study aims to determine WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, D-dimer, CRP, AST, ALT, LDH, PT, APTT, INR, urea, creatinine, lactate, and ferritin levels in COVID-19 patients and the effect of their changes on mortality rate. The study was conducted between 11 March 2020 and 31 August 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). A total of 502 patients older than 18 years who presented with suspected COVID-19 were included in the study. Of these 502 patients who applied to the hospital, 229(45.6%) were male and 273(54%) were female. 301(60%) patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 through computed tomography and PCR tests. 201(40%) patients with negative test results constituted the control group. Patients with positive test results 48.2% (n=145) were men, and 51.8% (n=156) were women. The median age of the patients was 51±25 years. The patients tested positive for COVID-19 were divided into three groups as outpatients (26.9%), inpatients (68.8%), and intensive care unit patients (4.3%). The mortality rate of the patients followed via the patient follow-up system after 30 days was determined as 2.7%. The biomarker values of patients examined in this study tested negative and positive for COVID-19 were compared. In the study, D-dimer, ferritin, Lactate, AST, ALT, LDH, Urea, Creatinine, APTT, and INR levels were found to be higher in the positive tested patients than the negative ones. In the study, it was concluded that neutrophil, lymphocyte, CRP, and ferritin ratios should also be followed in the follow-up phase of the disease. It is important that additional measures should be taken in cases when these biomarkers increase by following the values of the patients who started taking treatment. Also, the ratio of biomarkers is crucial in determining whether the treatment has been effective or not.