An evaluation of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio as a marker of COVID-19 PNEUMONIA in south indians

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus is a highly communicable infectious disease and was declared as a pandemic in March 2020.¹ The severity of corona virus varies from individuals to individual due to the mutant strains. Various markers of severity was established. This study was done to determine the efficacy of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker of the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia in the South-indian population .

Methodology: This is a retrospective cohort study and the study population was 70 COVID positive patients.

Results: A total of 70 patients were studied. Majority of our study population belongs to the age group of 50 to 60 years. Those with age less than 50 years with an NLR < 3.13 was found to have less risk to develop critical illness and can be encouraged to undergo treatment in a primary health center or home isolation. Those with NLR ≥ 3.13 need to be treated in a covid general ward and closely monitored. Patients with age above 50 years and with NLR < 3.13 were less prone to develop critical illness and they were treated with covid ward admission and supportive care and monitoring. On the other hand patients aged ≥ 50 with NLR ≥ 3.13 carries a high risk of developing critical illness and they were transferred to ICU for respiratory support. In our study patients in severe category were found to have a high NLR ratio and patient in mild category had a low NLR ratio.

Conculsion: Hence NLR is one of the most upcoming promising predictive factor for assessing the severity of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

keywords: COVID-19, Pneumonia, NLR ratio, Severity