Correlation of inflammatory markers with renal dysfunction and their outcome in symptomatic adult COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common complications associated with mortality. Aim: This study aims to find the correlation between renal dysfunction and inflammatory markers and their outcome in COVID-19 patients. Methods: The study was carried out in 100 patients whose inflammatory markers were available on the day of admission among the 814 patients with COVID-19. Results: Fifty-six percent of patients had moderate, and 36% of patients had severe disease outcomes including mortality in nine patients. Out of all the factors studied, advanced age, presence of chronic liver disease, increased levels of blood urea, serum creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decreased creatinine clearance were found to be significantly associated with risk of mortality (P < 0.05). Out of all the factors studied, advanced age increased interleukin (IL)-6 values, increased serum ferritin values, and known cases of hypertension (HTN) were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of AKI (P < 0.05). The death rate among those with AKI was more than double, i.e., 13.3% compared to only 5.5% without AKI. It was found that only IL-6 was significantly more in those who died having AKI compared to those who recovered with AKI (P < 0.05) but other inflammatory markers were not significantly associated with this (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Significant risk factors of AKI were advanced age, increased IL-6 values, increased serum ferritin values, and known cases of HTN. Significant risk factors for mortality were advanced age, presence of chronic liver disease, increased levels of blood urea, serum creatinine and LDH, decreased creatinine clearance.