SIGNIFICANCE OF NEUTROPHIL TO LYMPHOCYTE RATIO IN COVID- 19 PATIENTS : IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the association of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in
COVID- 19 and to identify the cut-off value that predicts mortality, need of respiratory
support and admission to high-dependency or intensive care.
METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted to collect demographic
data, clinical variables, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on-admission and the outcome of
confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary care centre.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the significance of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio (NLR)
in Covid- 19 patients.
RESULTS: Of the 150 patients as sample size in this study, the median Neutrophil
count was 4.07 × 103/µL (IQR 2.97-6.79) and the median Lymphocyte count was 1.74 ×
103/µL (IQR 1.36-4.75). The calculated NLR ranged from 0.12 to 48.28 with a median value
of 2.32 (IQR 1.37-4.76). An NLR value >3.6 predicted development of severe disease requiring
respiratory support, transfer to a high-dependency or an intensive care unit and/or
succumbing to the illness with a sensitivity 80% and specificity 80% (area under the curve
0.8, 95% CI 0.72-0.88, P < .0001). The adjusted odds ratio of NLR > 3.6 on predicting severe
disease was 11.1, 95% CI 4.5- 27.0, P < .0001.
CONCLUSIONS: A NLR > 3.6 is a useful variable to be included in risk prediction scores