Ahmed Sibtain, Ghani Farooq
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 Dec;60:522-525. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.10.067. Epub 2020 Nov 6.
Biochemical parameters, such as C-reactive protein (C-RP), Procalcitonin (PCT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Ferritin are associated with COVID-19 severity and prognosis. This trend analysis of COVID-19 prognostic biomarker requisitions is aimed at providing a reflection of the clinical practices adopted amidst the peak of the pandemic. This knowledge of the prognostic biomarkers utilized, will further aid to classify patients based on their risk, for optimal resource allocation and improve outcomes.
MATERIAL & METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the clinical chemistry laboratory at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi Pakistan. A team consisting of two clinical chemistry consultants reviewed the COVID-19 prognostic biomarkers tests performance data from March to July 2020 using the integrated laboratory information management system (ILMS). The test statistics of March to July 2020 when COVID-19 cases were on the rise in the country were compared with those of the same months from 2019. The changes in the test groups were expressed in percentages. Microsoft Excel for windows 2019 was used for data analysis.
The total specimens received for testing in 2020 (n = 574,092) showed a percent decline of approximately (-) 33% compared to 2019 (n = 858,756). Contrary to the overall decline in volumes an upward surge was noted for the prognostic biomarkers. From March to July, the highest percent change was noted for LDH (+155.1%), followed by PCT (+66.7.1%), C-RP (+26.5%) and Ferritin (+22.1%) in 2020 compared to the same time frame in 2019. The highest percent change was noted in June.
During the COVID 19 pandemic, a significant increase in utilization of laboratory services was seen for COVID-19 prognostic markers.
生化参数，如C反应蛋白（C-RP）、降钙素原（PCT）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）和铁蛋白，与2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的严重程度和预后相关。这项对COVID-19预后生物标志物检测需求的趋势分析旨在反映疫情高峰期所采用的临床实践。对所使用的预后生物标志物的了解，将有助于根据患者风险进行分类，以实现最佳资源分配并改善治疗结果。
这项横断面研究在巴基斯坦卡拉奇阿迦汗大学医院（AKUH）的临床化学实验室进行。由两名临床化学顾问组成的团队使用综合实验室信息管理系统（ILMS），回顾了2020年3月至7月COVID-19预后生物标志物检测的性能数据。将2020年3月至7月该国COVID-19病例上升期间的检测统计数据与2019年同期的进行比较。检测组的变化以百分比表示。使用适用于Windows 2019的Microsoft Excel进行数据分析。
2020年接收检测的标本总数（n = 574,092）与2019年（n = 858,756）相比下降了约33%。与标本总量的下降相反，预后生物标志物的检测量出现了上升。与2019年同期相比，2020年3月至七月，LDH的变化百分比最高（+155.1%），其次是PCT（+66.7%）、C-RP（+26.5%）和铁蛋白（+22.1%）。变化百分比最高的是在6月。
在COVID-19大流行期间，COVID-19预后标志物的实验室服务利用率显著增加。
