Introducing an Index to Predict Lung Involvement in Hypertensive Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Research efforts for early prediction of COVID-19 are still ongoing. This study aimed to introduce an index for predicting lung involvement in hypertensive patients with COVID-19. Method: All hypertensive patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Imam Sajjad Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, from February 1400 to May 1401 comprised the statistical population of this study, who were selected as the statistical sample by the census. The vitamin D concentration, C-reactive protein, and L-cysteine levels in serum were determined by the ELISA technique. An independent t-test was used to analyze the differences between groups. In addition, the C-reactive protein to L-cysteine ratio was calculated in both groups. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: All hypertensive patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit had lung involvement of > 50% and vitamin D deficiency of < 20 ng/ml. The Vitamin D concentration was > 26 ng/ml in healthy individuals. The findings showed hypertensive patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein, L-cysteine, and C-reactive protein to L-cysteine ratio than healthy individuals (P≤0.005). Conclusion: The ratio of C-reactive protein to L-cysteine and vitamin D deficiency could better predict lung involvement in hypertensive patients with COVID-19