Association between SARS-CoV-2 viral load and serum biomarkers with mortality in Mexican patients

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in high mortality among hospitalized patients; thus, identifying mortality markers in treating these patients is essential. To evaluate the association between viral load and serum biomarkers with mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 198 inpatient records from a tertiary hospital in Mexico City between January and April 2021. The association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load and serum biomarkers with death due to COVID-19 was assessed using Cox regression models.

The median age was 54.9 years, and 61.6% were males. The mortality rate was 43.4%. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients with higher viral load [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.56; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.01, 2.42; P value = 0.041]; and higher concentrations of BUN (aHR = 4.87;95% CI = 2.70, 8.79; P value = 0.001), creatinine (aHR = 1.60;95% CI = 1.01, 2.54; P value = 0.043), osmolality (aHR = 4.37;95% CI = 2.34, 8.14; P value = 0.001), and glucose (aHR = 2.41;95% CI = 1.40, 4.18; P value = 0.001) were more likely to have a fatal prognosis. Conversely, mortality risk was lower among patients with high concentrations of lymphocytes (aHR = 0.47;95% CI = 0.30, 0.72; P value = 0.001).

SARS-CoV-2 viral load and serum biomarkers such as BUN, creatinine, glucose, osmolarity, and lymphocytes could help physicians identify individuals who require closer monitoring.