Potential Laboratory Markers in COVID-19 Patients with Gastrointestinal Impairments as Prognosticators of the Disease Severity.

BACKGROUND

The new coronavirus infectious disease, COVID-19, is constantly killing people around the world. The main clinical symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, and sputum/discharge. Gastrointestinal (GI) impairments are often associated with respiratory manifestations in COVID-19 patients. The current study aimed to examine potential laboratory markers in COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal impairments as prognosticators of disease severity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory symptoms as the main clinical manifestations and gastrointestinal symptoms were studied to evaluate relevant blood biomarkers including vitamins B12, D, and K in addition to albumin, pre-albumin, calcium, and magnesium.

RESULTS

Sixty individuals (29 males and 31 females) participated in the study aged between 29 and 72 years, with a mean of 45.87 years. Our results showed a significant increase in albumin, pre-albumin, transferrin, and vitamin K and a significant decrease in magnesium and vitamin B12. Decreases in calcium and vitamin D were modestly associated with the clinical picture of the patient group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that monitoring laboratory markers such as transferrin, serum albumin, vitamin K, and magnesium-to-calcium ratio could be valuable prognosticators for COVID-19 infection. They could assist in better patient management and disease control.