Correlation of serum ferritin levels and COVID-19 severity in Makassar

Abstract

Background: Covid-19 pandemic has become a global problem. One of parameters to assessed the severity of Covid-19 disease was ferritin. Limited researches of ferritin with Covid-19 in Makassar. Aim: Determine relationship between serum ferritin levels and severity of Covid-19. Method: A cross-sectional by taking primary data of Covid-19 patients aged ≥18 years in 67 samples at Unhas Hospital Makassar in September 2020-May 2021. Pregnant women and have a history of chronic infection were excluded. Serum ferritin levels(ng/mL) was measured by the Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay(ELFA) method, mini VIDAS Biomerieux. Kruskal Wallis difference test and Spearman correlation test were performed. ROC curve to determine the cut-off point. Results: Total of 67 confirmed Covid-19 patients aged 18-63 years, with highest number being women(53.7%). Total of 27(40.3%) had comorbidities. Covid-19 patients at mild(53.7%), moderate(23.9%), and severe(22.4%). There is significant difference between serum ferritin levels and severity of Covid-19(p<0.001). Ferritin levels were also strongly positively correlated with severity of Covid-19(r=0.754, p<0.001). Cut-off ferritin at mild-moderate patients=153.89 ng/mL, and cut-off ferritin at mortality=1145.54 ng/mL.Discussion: Ferritin is a major mediator of immune dysregulation. Ferritin contributes cytokine storms. So serum ferritin levels can be used as a predictor severity of Covid-19.