Role of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in Predicting Disease Severity in Covid -19

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the role of NLR as a prognostic indicator for severe COVID-19, due to its positive correlation with disease severity, easy accessibility and low cost. Material and Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted in COVID-19 wards of two tertiary care hospitals of Faisalabad city, Pakistan, treating COVID-19 patients between May 2021 - July 2021. A predesigned proforma was filled to collect the data. SPSS 21 was used for the statistical analysis of this research. Results: A record of 100 COVID-19 patients admitted between May 2021 - July 2021, fulfilling the inclusion criteria was included in the study. All patients were divided into two groups. The non-severe group included 37 patients while the severe group included 63 patients. The mean age of the study population was 56 years with male predominance (63%). Overall, 50% of patients in the non-severe group and 71% in the severe group had some co-existent comorbidity. Fever and cough were the most commonly reported symptoms in both groups while shortness of breath was more widely reported in the severe group (74.2%). The mean NLR in the non-severe group was 4 as compared to 12 in the severe group. Conclusions: Higher neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with severe COVID -19 and can be used as an effective tool to predict the progression of the non-severe disease to severe disease.