Objective: We explored whether medical health workers had more psychosocial problems than nonmedical health workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods

Aim: The new coronavirus pneumonia outbreaking at the end of 2019 is highly contagious. Crude mortality rate reached 49% in critical patients. Inflammation matters on disease progression. This study analyzed blood inflammation indicators among mild, severe and critical patients, helping to identify severe or critical patients early.

Baricitinib therapy in COVID-19: A pilot study on safety and clinical impactDear Editor , 38.1 (37.7-38.7) 0.356 Breath rate N/min, median (IQR), 23 (19.5-24.2) 22 (19.7-24) 0.665 SpO2 (%),median (IQR) 91 (90-92.5) 92 (91.2-93) 0.157 PaO2/FiO2, median (IQR) 290 (199.2-292.2) 268.6 (264.4-295) 0.603 Pulse rate, median (IQR) 82 (73-88.3) 90 (87.2-94.5) 0.069 SBP mm/Hg, median (IQR) 120 (110-131.2) 105 (100-111.25) 0.003 DBP mm/Hg, median (IQR) 70 (60-80) 62.5 (60-66.25) 0.094 WBC (x10 9 /L), median (IQR) 7.8 (5.8-10.8) 8.2 (7.3-8.8) 0.908 Neutrophils (x10 9 /L), median (IQR) 6,5 (4.5-7.7) 6.9 (6.4-7.6) 0.707 Lymphocytes (x10 9 /L), median (IQR) 0.7 (0.7-1.2) 0.89 (0.7-0.9) 1.0 0 0 Hemoglobin (g/L), median (IQR) 118 (102-134.2) 125 (108-134) 0.568 Platelets (x10 9 /L), median (IQR) 203 (174-227) 366 (340-407) 0.0 0 0 ALT (U/L), median (IQR) 28.5 (23.5-52) 44 (37-50) 0.157 AST (U/L), median (IQR) 34 (26.2-48) 44 (34.7-47) 0.525 Creatinine (mg/dl), median (IQR)1.0 (0.9-1.1) 1.00 (0.9-1) 0.583 CRP (mg/dl), median (IQR) 8.2 (5.8-14.5) 3 (1.5-3.2) 0.002 Procalcitonin ng/ml, median (IQR) 0.7 (0.4-1.1) 1.2 (0.8-2.1) 0.902 MEWS, median (IQR) 3 ( 2-3.25) 3 (3-4) 0.544 Abbreviations and symbols: N = number;% = percentage; °C: grade Celsius; min = minute; SpO2 = peripheral capillary oxygen saturation; PaO2/FiO2 = ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen; SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure; WBC = white blood cells; AST = serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase; ALT = serum alanine aminotransferase; MEWS = Modified Early Warning Score; IQR: Interquartile range.

Background COVID-19 is highly contagious, and the crude mortality rate could reach 49% in critical patients. Inflammation concerns on disease progression. This study analyzed blood inflammation indicators among mild, severe and critical patients, helping to identify severe or critical patients early. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients were included and divided into mild, severe or critical groups according to disease condition. Correlation of peripheral blood inflammation-related indicators with disease criticality was analyzed. Cut-off values for critically ill patients were speculated through the ROC curve. Results Significantly, disease severity was associated with age (R = -0.564, P < 0.001), interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R) (R = -0.534, P < 0.001), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (R = -0.535, P < 0.001), interleukin-8 (IL-8) (R = -0.308, P < 0.001), interleukin-10 (IL-10) (R = -0.422, P < 0.001), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) (R = -0.322, P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) (R = -0.604, P < 0.001), ferroprotein (R = -0.508, P < 0.001), procalcitonin (R = -0.650, P < 0.001), white cell counts (WBC) (R = -0.54, P < 0.001), lymphocyte counts (LC) (R = 0.56, P < 0.001), neutrophil count (NC) (R = -0.585, P < 0.001) and eosinophil counts (EC) (R = 0.299, P < 0.001). With IL2R > 793.5 U/mL or CRP > 30.7 ng/mL, the progress of COVID-19 to critical stage should be closely observed and possibly prevented. Conclusions Inflammation is closely related to severity of COVID-19, and IL-6 and TNFα might be promising therapeutic targets.