Serum Ferritin as a Prognostic Marker in COVID-19

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study was conducted during the peak of COVID-19 disease with the objective to find the association of serum ferritin and COVID-19 disease severity, to evaluate the utility of serum ferritin as a prognostic marker in COVID-19, and to determine a cutoff value for serum ferritin as a prognostic marker for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by the department of biochemistry, in collaboration with the department of medicine in a tertiary care center among 103 patients who were admitted with COVID-19 infection after fulfilling the eligibility criteria. Patients were grouped according to the disease severity and also on the outcome during hospitalization. Results: The serum ferritin level was found to be significantly higher in the severe and critical groups when compared to the mild and moderate groups. However, the difference was not significant between mild and moderate and also between severe and critical groups. The serum ferritin level was also significantly higher in those who did not survive when compared to those who survived. A cutoff value of 635.25 ng/ml was found to have 76% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity to identify patients with severe COVID-19 disease. A cutoff value of 760.65 ng/ml was able to predict mortality with 73.3% sensitivity and 84.1% specificity. Conclusion: Estimating serum ferritin levels in all COVID-19 patients can be beneficial in predicting the progress of the disease and hence aid in the selection of appropriate management.

Keywords

• covid-19
• cutoff
• ferritin
• prognostic