A Cross Sectional Study of Neutrophillymphocyte Ratio (Nlr) as an Indicator of Disease Severity and Prognostic Marker among Patients with Covid-19 Infection in a Tertiary Care Center

ABSTRACT

Background: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARSCoV-2). The main routes of transmission of this highly contagious virus include respiratory droplets and close contact.1The SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a wide range of clinical symptoms, including asymptomatic, non-severe and severe forms, which can rapidly lead to death. Material(s) and Method(s) This was a cross-sectional type of study. The study was conducted during the period from May 2020 to September 2020. The study was conducted in Department of Pathology, Govt General and Chest Hospital/Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad. A total 132 patients diagnosed with SARI who were admitted in hospitals attached to OMC were included in the study. History was taken, general physical examination and a detailed systemic examination was done. Patients were categorized into moderate and severe illness according to WHO clinical criteria. RT-PCR for all patients was done using throat and nasal swab. Total WBC counts and differential counts, platelet counts were estimated. Result(s) The study was conducted on 132 patients diagnosed with SARI, of which 67 were COVID-19 positive patients and 65 were COVID-19 negative. Mean age of subjects with COIVD-19 positive (severe) was higher 58.70+/-15.596 Severity followed by COVID-19 positive (moderate) 55.13+/-14.480 [Table 1]. Conclusion(s) NL ratio was higher in patients with COVID-19 positive SARI as compared to COVID-19 negative SARI. There was significant correlation between increase in NL ratio and disease severity of COVID-19 positive pneumonia. We found that increase in NL ratio was associated with co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Copyright © 2022 Necati Ozpinar. All right reserved.