PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF THE LABORATORY PARAMETERS D_DIMER AND PROCALCITONIN IN COVID 19 PATIENTS AT TISHREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Riham Khaddour*, Faisal Radwan and Malek Hejazie

ABSTRACT

Background: Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered a global health crisis that has affected populations and spread worldwide. It is clear whether outcome is modulated by serum levels of D-dimer and PCT, in which elevated levels of them are associated with poor outcome. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of D. dimer and PCT as potential predictors for COVID-19 induced fatal clinical complications in hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: This was an Analytic Cohort study (Retrospective) involved 601 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to quarantine unit, Tishreen University Hospital, Latakia. Patients were divided into two groups according to the levels of PCT and D-dimer, and final outcome was compared between groups. Results: Out of 601 patients, 359 were males and 242 were females, with mean age of the patients 63.08±14.2. D-dimer levels > 985 mg/L were detected in 342 cases, and PCT levels > 0.54 ng/ml in 43 cases, without the presence of significant differences between groups regarding of age and gender (p>0.05). Elevated levels of D-dimer were associated with an independent risk for mortality (RR: 2.1[1.3-4.2], p=0.001), need for mechanical ventilation (RR: 3.8[2.4-11.3], p=0.0001), admission in intensive care unit ICU (RR : 1.9[1.2-8.4], p=0.02), and prolonged duration of hospitalization (RR: 3.1[2.2-9.9], p=0.0001). In addition, elevated levels of PCT were associated with an independent risk for mortality (RR: 4.1[1.1-12.5], p=0.0001), need for mechanical ventilation (RR: 3.02[1.4-9.8], p=.0001), admission in intensive care unit ICU (RR : 2.2[0.9-7.2], p:0.004), and longer duration of hospitalization (RR: 3.8[1.9-11.3], p=0.0001). Conclusion: The current study demonstrated poor results of elevated levels of PCT and D-dimer on final outcome regarding morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients especially PCT levels.

Keywords: COVID-19, PCT, D-dimer, outcome.