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Nonlinear Relationship Between Interleukin-6 and NT-proBNP at Admission in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Meijuan Zhang1, Zhanquan Jiao1
1Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tianjin Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Insights
This study found a nonlinear relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in COVID-19 patients. Higher IL-6 levels correlate with increased NT-proBNP, indicating cardiac strain in these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are observed in COVID-19 patients.
- The specific relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP in COVID-19 requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- 121 consecutive COVID-19 patients were analyzed.
- Univariate and multivariate regression analyses, including curve fitting, were performed to assess the association between IL-6 and NT-proBNP.
Main Results:
- A nonlinear association was identified between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels.
- In fully adjusted models, higher IL-6 levels showed a significant association with NT-proBNP, particularly beyond an inflection point of 2.7 (β = 0.77, P = 0.016).
- Univariate analysis indicated a significant positive association (β = 0.28, P = 0.001), though this diminished in the fully adjusted model (β = 0.09, P = 0.176).
Conclusions:
- The study suggests a nonlinear relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP in COVID-19 patients.
- Elevated IL-6 levels are associated with increased NT-proBNP, suggesting potential cardiac involvement in COVID-19 progression.
Purpose:
Elevated levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cardiac injury marker N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels in patients with COVID-19.
Patients And Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with COVID-19 were included herein. The independent and dependent target variables were the IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels, respectively, measured at baseline. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses and curve fitting were also performed.
Results:
The average age of the 121 selected participants was 49.8 ± 15.8 years old, and 48.8% (59/121) were male. The estimated β value between Ln-transformed IL-6 and NT-proBNP was 0.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-0.44, P = 0.001) in univariate logistic regression analysis and 0.09 (95% CI -0.04-0.21, P = 0.176) in the fully adjusted model. This relationship was nonlinear, with a point of 2.7, and the β values (and CIs) for the left (<2.7) and right (≥2.7) sides of the inflection point were -0.06 (95% CI -0.23-0.12, P = 0.534) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.18-1.37, P = 0.016) in the fully adjusted model, respectively.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest a nonlinear association between IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels. Higher IL-6 levels are associated with NT-proBNP in patients with COVID-19.
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