Correlation of Biochemical Markers with Chest CT Severity Index and Oxygen Saturation in Moderate to Severe COVID-19 Patients: A cross-sectional study

Souvik Panja; Sanjay Kumar Mandal; Bichayan Debbarma

doi:10.55489/njmr.140420241018

Authors

Souvik Panja Department of General Medicine, Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, Rampurhat, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2925-056X
Sanjay Kumar Mandal Department of General Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2925-056X
Bichayan Debbarma Department of General Medicine, Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, Rampurhat, India https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0688-0496

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njmr.140420241018

Keywords:

COVID-19, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, Fibrinogen, D-dimer, CT Severity Index

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19, a global pandemic, has been linked to biochemical parameters such as Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), and liver function tests, which correlate with disease severity. Prothrombotic markers like D-Dimer and Fibrinogen levels, along with the CT Severity Index (CTSI) indicating lung involvement, are associated with clinical worsening. This study aims to observe biochemical and chest radiological profiles in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients and explore any correlations between them.

Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, involving 80 symptomatic COVID-19 patients with SpO₂ ≤94%. Patients with liver, kidney, chronic inflammatory diseases, COPD, malignancy, or asthma were excluded.

Results: Out of 80 patients, 29 had moderate and 51 had severe illness. Statistically significant differences were observed in TLC, ESR, CRP, AST, ALT, A:G ratio, LDH, Fibrinogen, and D-Dimer between moderate and severe cases. The CTSI correlated significantly with TLC, NLR, CRP, AST, ALT, A:G ratio, LDH, Fibrinogen, and D-Dimer. CTSI values also differed significantly between moderate and severe COVID-19 cases.

Conclusion: Biochemical markers such as ESR, TLC, CRP, liver enzymes, LDH, D-Dimer, and Fibrinogen can help predict disease severity. These markers also correlate with radiological severity in COVID-19.

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