Evaluating COVID-19 Epidemiology, Clinical Outcomes and Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognosticator of Severity of the Disease: Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio in COVID-19

Mizna  Arif; Sadia  Farhad; Waqas  Hussain; Ghulam  Mustafa; Rakesh  Panjwani; Sarah  Arif; Sudhair Abbas  Bangash; Muhammad  Ateeq

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v5i4.394

Authors

Mizna Arif Pathology Department, Ameerudin Medical College/PGMI/ LGH Lahore
Sadia Farhad Department of Pathology, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan
Waqas Hussain Medicine Department, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
Ghulam Mustafa Department of Information Technology, University of the Punjab, Gujranwala Campus
Rakesh Panjwani Medicine Department, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
Sarah Arif Gomal Medical College, Medical Teaching Institute, Dera Ismail Khan
Sudhair Abbas Bangash Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar
Muhammad Ateeq Institute of Biological Sciences, Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v5i4.394

Keywords:

NLR, biochemical tests, covid-19, Lahore

Abstract

This study aimed to find out the public health perspective of COVID-19 and its associated clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a prognostic biomarker for the COVID-19 severity. Method: This research was conducted in Hematology section, Pathology Department of Lahore General Hospital/ Ameerudin Medical College Lahore. A total of 1000 patients were enrolled in the study for nine months. A RT-PCR test of a nasopharyngeal swab from COVID-19 patients was comprised in this research with their informed consent. An EDTA vial containing peripheral blood was taken and sent directly to the hospital lab. For every patient; a detailed history and clinical examination were performed. Results: In this study, the average age of participants were 40 years; 61.30 percent (n=613) were between the ages of 20 and 45, and 38.70 percent (n=387) were between 45 and 88 yrs. The majority of participants (88%, n=880) were males .In total, 68% (n=680) of the patients did not have any pre-morbid conditions, while 32% (n=320) did. Diabetes mellitus was a premorbid condition for 13.7% of patients (n=137), hypertension for 5% (n=50), ischemic heart disease for 5.7% (n=57), chronic respiratory infection for 2.3% (n= 23), chronic renal disease for 4.3% (n=43), chronic hepatic for 1.2% (n=12). Eight hundred and forty patients (84%, n=840) presented with NLR <3.13 and one hundred and sixty patients (16%, n=160) presented with NLR >3.13 along with lymphopenia. More than half of patients with NLR > 3.13 were anticipated to progress serious illness. We prioritized patients based on stratification of NLR
according to their ages and guided their treatment decisions. Conclusion: In conclusion, NLR can be exploited as a predictor for ventilatory support andprotection. Patients with an NLR > 3.13 are at higher risk of mortality as well as requiring intensive care soon after receiving it.

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