Effectiveness of laboratory parameters as morbidity and mortality indicators in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 admitted to the intensive care unit

Abstract

Objective: Laboratory parameters may predict the severity and mortality of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). We investigated the relationship of laboratory findings obtained at admission and 72nd hour and mortality and morbidity of patients with pneumonia who were treated in two intensive care units. Materials and Methods: Chart data of 75 patients (March-May 2020) were retrospectively analysed. Patient characteristics and laboratory parameters were compared according to the presence of COVID-19 and mortality. Patients with COVID-19 were compared according to mortality and gender. Results: The mean patient age was 74.7±11.3 years. COVID-19 positivity was not associated with marked differences in laboratory values. Lung disease, bedridden status, worse renal function scores, and high C-reactive protein level was more often observed in non-survivors (p<0.05). A decline in D-dimer level was more apparent in survivors; the increase in ferritin and neutrophillymphocyte ratio was more apparent in non-survivors (not significant). Among patients with COVID19, women had higher mean platelet volume than men (p=0.033). The rise in ferritin level was more pronounced in men, whereas the rise in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio was higher in women. Conclusion: In this geriatric cohort, chronic lung disease and bedridden status were the main determinants of mortality. Moreover, different patterns of inflammatory markers may help predict the severity of COVID-19