Correlations between comorbidities, chest x-ray findings, and C-Reactive protein level in patients with COVID-19

Patients with comorbidities have an increased risk for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) symptoms, including abnormal inflammation. Chest X-rays and C-reactive protein (CRP) level are frequently used to evaluate the severity of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between comorbidities, chest X-ray findings, and CRP level in patients with COVID-19.

This was a cross-sectional, analytic, observational study performed using a quantitative approach. The study population included in patients with confirmed COVID-19. Secondary data from the medical records of the patients were analysed to determine the correlations between comorbidities, chest X-rays, and CRP level.

The data of 167 patients (87 [52.1%] females and 80 [47.9%] males) were evaluated. Regarding comorbidities, 86 (51.5%) patients had hypertension, 66 (39.5%) had diabetes mellitus, and 17 (10.2%) had dyspepsia. Chest X-rays showed that 144 (86.2%) patients had pneumonia, whereas 23 (13.8%) did not. A total of 143 (85.6%) patients showed increased CRP levels, whereas 24 (14.4%) did not show any increase. Patients who showed pneumonia on chest X-rays tended to have increased CRP levels. The results also showed that chest X-ray findings were correlated with CRP level. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were significantly correlated with CRP level (p = 0.05), whereas dyspepsia did not show a significant relationship with CRP level (p > 0.05). Patients with hypertension had a 2.709-fold risk of having increased CRP level compared with patients without hypertension. Patients with pneumonia had a 2.953-fold increased risk for increased CRP level compared to those without pneumonia.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are significantly correlated with CRP level. Chest X-ray finding is also significantly correlated with CRP level.