Relationship of Hypocalciamia and Severity of Disease in COVID-19 Patients in Lahore Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: In Pakistan, a wave of coronavirus has started in February which was first reported in Wahun City China. Abnormal calcium blood level is considered one of the important and common electrolyte disturbances in patients with severe infection. The effect of blood calcium level on the severity of COVID-19 and the possible immune regulation mechanism is considered to be an important factor related to severity of disease. Aim of the Study: To find out the correlation of blood calcium levels and related risk factors of patients suffering from COVID-19 and provide a basis for early intervention in patients with relevant clinical characteristics and further reduce the incidence of critical illness and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Method: 180 COVID-19 patients were admitted to Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore between February to July 2020. Subject index were tested on real-time fluorescent RT-PCR test. On the basis of the result of RT-PCR, they were divided into two groups according to clinical symptoms as mild (control/placebo group) and critical (experimental group). The patient with the mild symptom were included in the placebo group, whereas patient with the severe symptoms were included in the experimental group. Exclusion criteria: The patients who do not show the detection level of viral infection with the RT-PCR are excluded from the study. Results: The comparison has been carried out between the placebo group and the experimental group on the basis of various parameters. The patients serum calcium level was tested and the value for hypocalcemia was declared as per universal recommendation which is < 2.13mmol/L. According to the corrected serum total calcium level, COVID-19 patients can be divided into hypocalcemia group and normal blood calcium group. The result showed that hypocalcemia and immune dysfunction was found high in experimental group as compare to control group which shows a strong correlation between hypocalcemia and COVID-19 disease. Conclusion: It has been concluded from the study that patients with COVID-19 have obvious hypocalcemia and immune dysfunction, especially in experimental group patients. In this study, it is easy to be combined with multiple infections caused by pathogenic bacteria under certain conditions. Close monitoring of blood calcium levels can predict the severity of the disease more effectively.