Prognostic value of albumin-to-globulin ratio in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Issue 5 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ulloque-Badaracco, Juan R.; Mosquera-Rojas, Melany D.; Hernandez-Bustamante, Enrique A.; Alarcón-Braga, Esteban A.; Herrera-Añazco, Percy; Benites-Zapata, Vicente A.
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 8:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Albumin -- COVID-19 -- Globulin -- Prognosis; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09457
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

Abstract: Background and aims: The albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) has been used to predict severity and mortality in infectious diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the AGR in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. We included observational studies assessing the association between the AGR values upon hospital admission and severity or all-cause mortality in COVID-19 patients. In the meta-analyses we used random effect models. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The effect measures were expressed as mean difference (MD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). We performed Egger's test and funnel plots to assess the publication bias. Results: The included studies had a total of 11356 patients corresponding to 31 cohort studies. Severe COVID-19 patients had lower AGR values than non-severe COVID-19 patients (mean difference (MD), −0.27; 95% IC, −0.32 to −0.22; p < 0.001; I 2 = 88%). Non-survivor patients with COVID-19 had lower AGR values than survivor patients (MD, −0.29; 95% IC, −0.35 to −0.24; p < 0.001; I 2 = 79%). In the sensitivity analysis, we only included studies with low risk of bias, which decreased the heterogeneity for both outcomes (severity, I 2 = 20%; mortality, I 2 = 5%). Conclusions: Low AGR values upon hospital admission were found in COVID-19 patients with a worse prognosis. Abstract : Albumin, COVID-19, Globulin, Prognosis.