NEUTROPHIL-LYMPHOCYTIC RATIO (NLR) OR ALBUMIN-GLOBULIN RATIO (AGR) WHICH ONE IS A BETTER PREDICTOR MARKER IN ASSESSMENT OF SEVERITY OF COVID-19 INFECTION

Abstract

The current study retrospectively enrolled, 75 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in a tertiary care hospital from December 2020 to February 2021. The diagnosis was confirmed by RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swab.

Demographic data and laboratory values were collected from medical records and patient file. The following variables were recorded for each COVID-19 patient: age, sex, chest CT severity scores of lung involvement at admission, history of Comorbidities like diabetes mellitus, hypertension were noted and laboratory findings like Absolute neutrophils count, Absolute lymphocytes count recorded from Complete blood count of patient and Serum albumin, globulin level recorded from Liver function test of patient.

This study proves that N-L ratio is more accurate predictor of severity of SARS-COVID-19 infection than A-G ratio with more sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and can be used as a severity marker in places where medical resources is limited. However, a larger study with more subjects requires for exact correlation.

Keywords: NLR, AGR, Severity & COVID-19.