Does C reactive protein/Albumin ratio have prognostic value in patients with COVID-19

Authors

  • Aleksandr Kalabin Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York City, NY, United States
  • Vishnu R Mani Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York City, NY, United States
  • Sebastian C Valdivieso Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York City, NY, United States
  • Brian Donaldson Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York City, NY, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.14826

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, C reactive protein/Albumin ratio, pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: There is paucity of data regarding C reactive protein/Albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate the significance of CRP/Alb ratio in COVID-19 patients.

Methodology: Patients hospitalized between March – April 2020 with COVID-19, who had CRP and Albumin levels documented within 24 hours from admission were retrospectively analyzed. Unpaired Student’s t-test was used for continuous and Pearson Chi-square (χ²) test for categorical variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were developed to assess the relationship between CRP/Alb and mortality. Nonparametric correlations were calculated using Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient.

Results: 75 patients were included. Mean age was 62.92, 26 females (34.67%) and 49 males (65.33%), mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 29.86, mean body temperature 101.3 and mean length of stay (LOS) was 14.80 days. 24 (32%) patients required invasive mechanical ventilation and 51 (68%) did not, mean CRP/Alb ratio was 6.89 and 4.7 respectively (p = 0.036). 15 (20%) patients died, 60 (80%) survived and the mean CRP/Alb difference between these groups was also statistically significant (7.74 vs 4.83, p = 0.02). LOS (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57.-0.88, p < 0.001) and BUN (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01.-1.07, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of mortality by multivariate logistic regression, whereas CRP/Alb (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.96.-1.51, p = 0.06) was not.

Conclusions: CRP/Alb ratio could be useful as a prognostic indicator of disease severity in COVID-19, but we could not corroborate its potential to predict mortality. The work was conducted at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital.

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Published

2021-08-31

How to Cite

1.
Kalabin A, Mani VR, Valdivieso SC, Donaldson B (2021) Does C reactive protein/Albumin ratio have prognostic value in patients with COVID-19. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:1086–1093. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14826

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic