Evaluation of the relationship between laboratory parameters and
pulmonary function tests in COVID-19 patients
Abstract
Objective: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) rapidly escalated
from its origin in an animal market in Wuhan, China in December 2019 to
a global pandemic, and the lungs are the most frequently affected organ.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between
pulmonary function test parameters and laboratory parameters in
COVID-19. Method: A total of 60 patients who were admitted to the chest
diseases department and intensive care unit of our hospital and were
diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time PCR analysis of nasopharyngeal
swabs were evaluated. Pulmonary function tests and laboratory parameters
at admission and on day 7 of treatment were analyzed. Results: On day 7
of treatment, white blood cell count, CRP, and fibrinogen level were
significantly lower than at admission (p=0.002, 0.001, and 0.001,
respectively), while forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)
and forced vital capacity (FVC) values were significantly higher
compared to admitting values (p=0.001 for both). Correlation analysis of
the changes in respiratory function values and laboratory parameters
during follow-up (day 1 to day 7 of treatment) revealed that CRP level
was positively correlated with FEV1 (r=0.616, p=0.01) and FVC values
(r=0.51, p=0.01). Fibrinogen level was also positively correlated with
FEV1 (r=0.345, p=0.01) and FVC (r=0.357, p=0.01). Conclusion: Fibrinogen
and CRP levels are easily accessible parameters that may help identify
improvement or deterioration in pulmonary function in COVID-19 patients
during follow-up and discharge while reducing the risk of transmission.