Assessing Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients: Correlations with Laboratory, Radiological, Comorbidity, and Blood Gas Parameters

Ghazala Jawwad; Mehvish Iftikhar; Aiman Farogh Anjum; Maleha Asim

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v76i2.12130

Authors

Ghazala Jawwad Department of Physiology, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi Pakistan
Mehvish Iftikhar Department of Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore Pakistan
Aiman Farogh Anjum Department of Physiology, CMH Kharian Medical College, Kharian Pakistan
Maleha Asim Department of Biochemistry, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76i2.12130

Keywords:

Covid severity, CRP, D-Dimer, HbA1c, LDH, Serum Ferritin

Abstract

Objective: To compare the lab investigations, blood gases analysis, and radiological findings to assess the severity of COVID disease in positive patients with comorbidities.

Study Design: Cross-Sectional Study.

Place and Duration of Study: Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi, and Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from Dec 21 to Apr 22.

Methodology: Data of 750 patients, admitted in Railway Hospital Rawalpindi and Services Hospital Lahore, were gathered, and WHO categories of COVID-19 disease severity were used, and correlated with TLC, HbA1c, CRP, LDH, pH, and oxygen requirement at baseline.

Results: Significant differences were observed among mild, moderate, severe, and very severe categories of COVID-19 patients concerning Total Leukocyte Count (TLC)(p=0.001), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p=0.006), C -reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.001), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) (p=0.010), oxygen saturation (SpO2) (p=0.001), pH(p=0.001), and oxygen requirement at baseline(p=0.034). Additionally, there was significant correlation between disease severity and HbA1c(r=0.244, p=0.003), TLC(r=0.458, p< 0.001), ferritin(r=0.260, p=0.001), C-reactive protein(r=0.443,p<0.001), LDH(r=0.211,p=0.01), and pH(r=0.653, p<0.001) and oxygen requirement at baseline(r=0.669, p<0.001). Significant associations with co-morbidities were seen in relation to severe and very severe COVID-19 disease (p-value ≤0.001)

Conclusion: Patients with severe and very severe disease were found to have raised levels of TLC, HbA1c, CRP, LDH, pH, and oxygen requirement at baseline; additionally, there is a strong association of comorbidities with severe and very severe disease.

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