Clinical and biochemical indicators of disease severity and neurological findings in COVID-19: A study of King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Pakistan

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2021 Jan;34(1(Supplementary)):275-281.

Abstract

This study investigated the significance of difference between presence and absence of different neurological findings in COVID-19, in relation with the biochemistry. Various significant correlations in connection with the disease severity and clinical factors were also identified. 351 COVID-19 patients were included. Different laboratory/ clinical findings were investigated. Correlations Kendall's tau and Pearson Chi-Square were applied to find the correlations between severity and clinical findings. The Mann-Whitney Test was applied for a comparison between two types of neurological groups for each biochemistry parameter. Headache was reported in 28% and dizziness in 13% patients. The impaired smell and impaired taste were reported in 28.5% and 36.2% patients, respectively. The muscle pain was present in 39% patients. 80% patients had low lymphocytes & 70% had high neutrophils. 54.5% were found with high ALP. LDH was elevated in 73%. Severity was found significantly correlated with decreased oxygen saturation, age and raised levels of urea, creatinine and LDH. The groups (with/without CNS involvement) were statistically different in ALP, groups (with/without PNS involvement) in WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils, ALP, urea, creatinine, CK, CKMB and LDH and groups (with/without MSK involvement) in WBC. Oxygen saturation, age, urea, creatinine and LDH are significant indicators of disease severity in COVID-19. The altered levels of different biochemistry can impact the neurological states of COVID-19 patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Chemical Analysis
  • COVID-19 / blood*
  • COVID-19 / diagnostic imaging
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / etiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Pakistan
  • Prospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Alkaline Phosphatase