Study correlating interleukin-6 levels with demographics, symptomatology and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the Interleukin-6 levels of COVID 19 patients and to find any associations between Interleukin-6 levels and age, gender, co-morbidities, symptoms, clinical outcomes and other biochemical parameters among COVID19 patients.Methods: It was a cross sectional observational study conducted on 150 patients admitted to Victoria Hospital, Bangalore medical college from May 2020 to September 2020. Case record form with follow up chart was used to record the relevant demographic details, clinical data including symptoms, co-morbid conditions and various laboratory data. COVID 19 infection was diagnosed by RTPCR technique and severity of COVID-19 disease was classified according to WHO guidelines and guidelines laid by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. Interleukin-6 levels were correlated with the above parameters.Results: It was found that IL6 was elevated and found to be statistically significant with the presence of co-morbid conditions including Hypertension, with the presence of symptoms including fever, cough, breathlessness, with the severity of the disease, with the presence of intubation, with the mortality of the illness and strong association with neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, Ferritin and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte ratio.Conclusions: IL6 can be used as a viable biomarker for knowing the severity of COVID19, to predict the outcome and prognosis of the patient and associations with various presenting symptoms, co-morbid conditions and other laboratory values.