Can We Use Inflammation Biomarkers Based on Complete Blood Cell Count in the Follow-up of COVID-19 in Hemodialysis Patients?

Aim: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is more severe in hemodialysis patients than in the average population and causes much higher mortality. This study investigated the effect of inflammation parameters obtained from complete blood count on the prognosis of COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19. Method(s): Hemodialysis patients admitted to our hospital between 11.03.2020 and 01.12.2020 with the diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in this study. The relationship between the oxygen requirement, intensive care requirements, and mortality development of the patients and the parameters obtained from the complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), secondary infection, and demographic characteristics of the patients were investigated. Result(s): A total of 94 hemodialysis patients were included in the study. There was a correlation between secondary infections and the need for oxygen and intensive care (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CRP levels were associated with mortality, need for intensive care and oxygen demand (p=0.031, p=0.019 and p=0.014, respectively). Systemic inflammation index, derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were associated with oxygen demand (p=0.002, p=0.009 and p=0.044, respectively). The systemic inflammation index, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio exhibited the highest specificity (19.4% vs 26.9% vs 16.4%) and sensitivity (96.7% vs 92.6% vs 96.7%) and the largest areas under the curve of 0.672 vs 0.652 vs 0.666, respectively. Conclusion(s): Systemic inflammation index, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-lymphocyte ratio obtained from complete blood count parameters in hemodialysis patients are functional parameters that can be used to predict the course of COVID-19. Copyright © 2022 by The Medical Bulletin of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayinevi.