Prognostic factors for predicting severity and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Pathology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid identification of prognostic biomarkers for disease severity.
• Early prediction of patient outcomes is crucial for effective hospital management.
• This study investigated laboratory markers in relation to COVID-19 patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between initial laboratory results and the clinical outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• To identify specific laboratory parameters that can predict disease severity and mortality.
• To inform early management strategies for moderate to severe COVID-19 cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records from 310 COVID-19 positive patients.
• Data collected from patients admitted to Uhod Hospital, Saudi Arabia, between April and July 2020.
• Statistical analysis to determine the association between laboratory results and survival/mortality outcomes.

Main Results:

• Lymphopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), high international normalized ratio (INR), elevated D-dimer, and high creatine kinase (CK) were identified as significant early prognostic predictors.
• Multiple logistic regression revealed aPTT, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and CK levels were associated with mortality.
• These laboratory findings indicate potential for early severity assessment.

Conclusions:

• Specific laboratory tests, including lymphopenia, aPTT, INR, D-dimer, and CK, are valuable for predicting COVID-19 severity at hospital admission.
• Elevated ALT and CK levels, along with specific clinical parameters (HR, RR), are linked to fatal outcomes.
• Implementing these tests for moderate to severe COVID-19 patients upon admission can enhance management and reduce mortality.