Correlation analysis between disease severity and inflammation-related parameters in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study

Background COVID-19 is highly contagious, and the crude mortality rate could reach 49% in critical patients. Inflammation concerns on disease progression. This study analyzed blood inflammation indicators among mild, severe and critical patients, helping to identify severe or critical patients early. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients were included and divided into mild, severe or critical groups according to disease condition. Correlation of peripheral blood inflammation-related indicators with disease criticality was analyzed. Cut-off values for critically ill patients were speculated through the ROC curve. Results Significantly, disease severity was associated with age ( R = -0.564, P < 0.001), interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R) ( R = -0.534, P < 0.001), interleukin-6 (IL-6) ( R = -0.535, P < 0.001), interleukin-8 (IL-8) ( R = -0.308, P < 0.001), interleukin-10 (IL-10) ( R = -0.422, P < 0.001), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) ( R = -0.322, P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) ( R = -0.604, P < 0.001), ferroprotein ( R = -0.508, P < 0.001), procalcitonin ( R = -0.650, P < 0.001), white cell counts (WBC) ( R = -0.54, P < 0.001), lymphocyte counts (LC) ( R = 0.56, P < 0.001), neutrophil count (NC) ( R = -0.585, P < 0.001) and eosinophil counts (EC) ( R = 0.299, P < 0.001). With IL2R > 793.5 U/mL or CRP > 30.7 ng/mL, the progress of COVID-19 to critical stage should be closely observed and possibly prevented. Conclusions Inflammation is closely related to severity of COVID-19, and IL-6 and TNFα might be promising therapeutic targets.