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. 2021 Nov;7(11):e08412.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08412. Epub 2021 Nov 16.

Superiority of lymphocyte ratio over total leukocyte count in detecting the severity of COVID- 19 pneumonia

Rawaa Hadi Shareef  1 , Zinah Dhiaa Zwain  2 , Wadhah Abdulhussian Mahbuba  3
Affiliations

Superiority of lymphocyte ratio over total leukocyte count in detecting the severity of COVID- 19 pneumonia

Rawaa Hadi Shareef et al. Heliyon. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. Blood test including complete blood count is crucial in diagnosing of several viral and bacterial infection.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the association between lymphocyte ratio and other WBC types and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: The design of this study was a cross-sectional study. A complete blood count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was done for one hundred twenty-six COVID-19 patients (76 males and 50 females; aged 20-70 years). Patients were randomly recruited from multicenter in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq.

Results: The study had revealed an inverse correlation between severity of COVID-19 infection and both lymphocytes and monocytes ratio even in patients with normal WBC count. Additionally, there was a direct correlation between platelets and leukocyte count. The relation between leukocyte count and ESR level was significant in a patient with elevated WBC only.

Conclusion: Lymphocytes and monocyte ratios inpatient with COVID-19 infection can be used as predictors for the severity of infection. Increased leukocyte count resulted in increases in platelets inpatient with COVID-19.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Lymphocytes; Monocytes; White blood cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a) Correlation between WBC and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); b) Correlation between ESR and lymphocytes; c) Correlation between ESR and monocytes; d) Correlation between WBC vs. platelet count.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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