Evaluation of the Effects of Interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein and Procalcitonin on the Prognosis of the Disease in Patients With COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 continues across the world. Some patients with COVID-19 develop cytokine storm secondary to virally driven hyper-inflammation. This study aimed to assess the relationship of interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalsitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with the severity of the disease in patients with COVID-19.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 63 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from January 2020 to March 2021. Data on demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics with the levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT on admission were collected. ROC analysis was performed to determine whether interleukin-6 had a diagnostic value in predicting mortality. IL-6, CRP and procalcitonin values were evaluated by the Spearman correlation analysis.Results: In the ROC analysis performed in terms of predicting mortality, it was observed that IL-6 level predicted mortality at a statistically significant level (area under the curve: 0.708, p=0.004, 95% confidence interval: 0.583-0.833). A value of > 358.3 pg/mL for IL-6 showed prognostic significance on mortality. In the Spearman correlation analysis performed between IL-6, CRP and procalcitonin values, a positive correlation was observed between CRP and procalcitonin (r=0.474, p=0.001).Conclusion: The serum levels of IL-6 and CRP can effectively assess disease severity in patients with COVID-19.