Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, a novel biomarker to predict the severity of COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simadibrata, Daniel Martin; Pandhita, Bashar Adi Wahyu; Ananta, Muammar Emir; Tango, Tamara
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Intensive Care Society. Volume 23:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio -- severity -- COVID-19 -- coronavirus -- SARS-CoV-2; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; Intensive care units -- Periodicals; 616.028
• DOI: 10.1177/1751143720969587
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-1437

Abstract

Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), a novel inflammatory marker, has been suggested to predict the severity of COVID-19 patients. This systematic review aims to evaluate the association between PLR levels on admission and the severity of COVID-19 patients. A systematic literature search was done on 23 July 2020 to identify peer-reviewed studies, preprints, and grey literatures. Research articles comparing the PLR value on admission in adult patients with COVID-19 with varying degrees of severity were included in the analysis. The following keywords were used for the search: "COVID-19", "PLR", "severity", and "mortality". A total of seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, six of which were conducted in China. From a total of 998 participants included, 316 (31.7%) had severe diseases; and those in the severe group were generally older and had underlying diseases compared to the non-severe group. In comparison to non-severe patients, the meta-analysis showed that severe COVID-19 patients had higher PLR levels on admission (SMD 0.68; 95%CI 0.43-0.93; I 2 =58%). High PLR levels on admission were associated with severe COVID-19 cases. Therefore, the on-admission PLR level is a novel, cost-effective, and readily available biomarker with a promising prognostic role for determining the severity of COVID-19 patients.