The Association between Admission Procalcitonin Level and The Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: An elevated procalcitonin level has classically been linked to bacterial infections. Data on the association between elevated procalcitonin and the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are conflicting. Some linked it to associated bacterial co-infections, while others correlated the elevation with disease severity without coexisting bacterial infections. We aimed to investigate the association between high procalcitonin and the severity of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were divided into two groups: the normal-procalcitonin group and the high-procalcitonin group (>0.05 ng/mL). Patients with concomitant bacterial infections on admission were excluded. The primary outcomes were the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, progression to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and in-hospital 28-day mortality. Results: We included 260 patients in the normal procalcitonin group and 397 patients in the high procalcitonin group. The mean age was 55 years and 49% were females. A higher number of patients in the elevated procalcitonin group required ICU admission (32.7% vs. 16.2%, p < 0.001) and IMV (27.2% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the elevated procalcitonin group (18.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for other covariates, procalcitonin > 0.05 ng/mL was an independent predictor of progression to IMV (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.08–2.71; p = 0.022), ICU admission (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.13–2.66; p = 0.011), and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.14–3.47; p = 0.015). An elevated procalcitonin level was the strongest predictor of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Measurement of procalcitonin can have a prognostic role among COVID-19 patients. The admission procalcitonin level can identify patients at risk of ICU admission, progression to IMV, and in-hospital mortality.

The utility of serum amyloid A and other acute-phase reactants determination in ambulatory care COVID-19 patients

“…In most of our patients, PCT levels were observed to be below the reference range and also below 0.25 mg/L, which is consistent with previous studies (13,16,21). Based on our and previous studies, significant PCT elevations are rarely seen, so this indirectly can be used as a surrogate marker that empiric antibiotics are not needed in most, if not all, ambulatory care patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”

“…During the acute-phase reaction, the serum concentrations of SAA1 and SAA2 rise quickly due to accelerated transcription of their respective genes [10] as a response to proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (e.g., 1α, 1β, and 6), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and interferon-y (INF-y) [9] . So far, many studies have evaluated APRs to assess disease severity and prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection [7] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] , mostly in hospitalized patients, where SAA showed a positive correlation with disease severity and prognosis. It also demonstrated better characteristics for the same purpose when compared to other APRs [13] [20] [21] [22] .…”