Clinical value of immune-inflammatory parameters to assess the severity of coronavirus disease 2019. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Zhe; Cai, Ting; Fan, Lingyan; Lou, Kehong; Hua, Xin; Huang, Zuoan; Gao, Guosheng
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 95(2020)
• Page Start: 332
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Immune-inflammatory parameters -- Cytokine storm -- IL-6; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Clinical characteristics and immune-inflammatory parameters were compared between non-severe and severe patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). High level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and hypertension were independent predictors for the severity of COVID-19. IL-6 has the highest predictive value among other single immune-inflammatory parameters. The risk model based on IL-6, CRP and hypertension enlarged the predictability. The dynamic change of IL-6 in the severe cases were parallel to the amelioration of this disease, implied a potential value for monitoring the process of severe cases. Abstract: Objective: To explore the clinical value of immune-inflammatory markers to assess the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: 127 consecutive hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study, and classified into non-severe and severe groups. Demographics, symptoms, underlying diseases and laboratory data were collected and assessed for predictive value. Results: Of 127 COVID-19 patients, 16 cases (12.60%) were classified into the severe group. High level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reaction protein (CRP) and hypertension were independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19. The risk model based on IL-6, CRP and hypertension had the highest area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC). Additionally, the baseline IL-6 was positively correlated with other immune-inflammatory parameters and the dynamic change of IL-6 in the severe cases were parallel to the amelioration of the disease. Conclusion: Our study showed that high level of IL-6, CRP and hypertension were independent risk factors for assessing the severity of COVID-19. The risk model established upon IL-6, CRP and hypertension had the highest predictability in this study. Besides, IL-6 played a pivotal role in the severity of COVID-19 and had a potential value for monitoring the process of severe cases.