Periostin as a biomarker of severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients

Periostin is a novel biomarker associated with a range of inflammatory conditions, particularly those involving pulmonary inflammation and fibrotic processes. This research aimed to investigate the association between periostin concentrations, severity of COVID-19, and patient mortality.

Our study comprised 127 participants: 36 healthy controls (Group-1), 37 COVID-19 patients with uncomplicated disease (Group-2), 28 with mild pneumonia (Group-3), and 26 with severe pneumonia (Group-4). Periostin levels in all participants were measured using the ELISA method.

Periostin concentrations were significantly elevated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Periostin concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia compared to those with mild pneumonia or uncomplicated disease (p < 0.05). According to our study analysis, periostin level independently predicted severe pneumonia in COVID-19 (Odds Ratio: 1.085; 95% CI: 1.035-1.137; p = 0.001). Serum periostin threshold of 67.5 ng/mL predicted severe pneumonia with 69.2% sensitivity and 66.2% specificity. Lastly, every 1 ng/mL increase in periostin was linked to 1.21-fold higher mortality risk in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia (Hazard Ratio: 1.216; 95% CI: 1.006-1.471; p = 0.044).

Our findings suggest that periostin level may help assessing disease severity and predicting mortality in COVID-19. Additional studies with expanded patient groups are needed.