Blood-Based Inflammatory Indices in COVID-19 Patients with Different Degrees of Lung Involvement

This study aimed to compare some inflammatory indices in COVID-19 patients with different degrees of lung involvement.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 301 patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in Vasei-Sabzevar Hospital from October 2021 to March 2022 were included. Patients were divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups based on the CT scan findings and the severity of lung involvement. Based on complete blood count (CBC) results, neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR), platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, and systemic inflammation index (SII) were calculated.

Based on CT scan findings, mild, moderate, and severe lung involvement was observed in 39%, 37%, and 24% of patients, respectively. NLR, PLR, and SII indices were significantly higher in severe lung involvement compared to other groups (P < 0.05). The MLR was significantly higher in severe lung involvement than in moderate involvement. Mortality in severe lung involvement was significantly higher than in moderate and mild groups (41% vs. 2% and 5%, respectively) (P < 0.001). Also, 13% of patients died. There was no significant difference between mortality and patient’s gender.

NLR, PLR, MLR, and SII are related to COVID-19 severity, and these indices amounts in severe lung involvement are more than moderate and mild involvement. These findings show the importance of these indices in determining the COVID-19 prognosis.