# A Retrospective Study: Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Inflammatory Markers in Hospitalized Patients

## TL;DR

This study examines how inflammatory markers like LDH, D-dimer, and ferritin are linked to the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific inflammatory markers strongly associated with severe disease progression and outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

## Key findings

- Elevated LDH levels are linked to ICU admission, low oxygen saturation, mechanical ventilation, and death.
- Higher D-dimer levels are associated with older age, diabetes, and cardiac disease.
- Ferritin levels correlate with ICU admission, low oxygen saturation, and lung infiltrates.

## Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact globally, and understanding the relationship between inflammatory markers and disease progression is crucial for effective management. This retrospective study aimed to examine the association between various inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, ferritin, and procalcitonin (PCT), and the characteristics of disease progression and outcomes in individuals affected by COVID-19. Methods: This study collected raw data from 470 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR. Results: The logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated LDH levels were associated with male gender, ICU admission, low oxygen saturation (O2 < 93%), the need for mechanical ventilation, death, and the presence of lung infiltrates. Higher D-dimer levels were associated with older age, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, and low oxygen saturation. Ferritin levels were significantly associated with older age, ICU admission, low oxygen saturation, mechanical ventilation, and lung infiltrates. In contrast, CRP was only significant regarding lung infiltrates and procalcitonin levels were not significantly associated with any of the examined factors. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of monitoring key inflammatory markers, such as LDH, D-dimer, and ferritin, as they are significantly associated with the severity of COVID-19 illness. These findings can inform clinical decision-making and guide the development of targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes.