Can lymphopenia be an early predictor of COVID-19
severity?
Lymphopenia can be used as an early predictor of severity and clinical
outcome. A significant reduction in lymphocyte counts was common in
severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. A continuing or gradual
decrease of lymphocyte counts was indicative of poor prognosis and
usually required ICU admission (Table 1 )49.
In agreement with this, a number of studies have identified lymphopenia
as an independent risk factor for mortality in
COVID-19.22,66