Ferritin level: A predictor of severity and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Immun Inflamm Dis. 2021 Dec;9(4):1648-1655. doi: 10.1002/iid3.517. Epub 2021 Aug 26.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to investigate in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity in severe асute resрirаtоry syndrоme соrоnаvirus 2 раtients strаtified by serum ferritin levels.

Methods: Patients were stratified based on ferritin levels (ferritin levels ≤ 1000 or >1000).

Results: Approximately 89% (118) of the patients with ferritin levels > 1000 had pneumonia, and 51% (67) had hypertension. Fever (97, 73.5%) and shortness of breath (80, 61%) were two major symptoms among the patients in this group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that ferritin level (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.21-0.62; p < .001), male sex (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.43-5.06; p = .003), hypertension (OR = 4.16, 95% CI = 2.42-7.36; p < .001) and pneumonia (OR = 8.48, 95% CI = 3.02-35.45; p < .001) had significance in predicting in-hospital mortality. Additionally, the Cox proportional hazards analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival probability plot showed a higher mortality rate among patients with ferritin levels > 1000.

Conclusion: In this study, higher levels of serum ferritin were found to be an independent predictor of in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; ferritin; hypertension; in-hospital mortality; male sex; pneumonia.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Ferritins
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pneumonia*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Ferritins