Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios in COVID-19 Patients and Control Group and Relationship with Disease Prognosis

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to compare the complete blood count (CBC) indices between COVID-19 patients and the control group, and assess the relationship of these indices with COVID-19 prognosis METHODS: COVID-19 patients (confirmed by PCR or CT-Scan) who visited Imam Hospital in Sari were selected in this case-control study The control group was selected from Tabari cohort population matched with the case group in terms of gender and age CBC, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and outcome of the disease (in the case group) were assessed in this study RESULTS: The number of participants were 527 in both case and control groups, of which, 232 (44%) were females in each arms Platelet count, lymphocyte count, and hemoglobin concentration were also higher in the control group (P=0 000) NLR and PLR were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group (P=0 000) NLR had a significant relationship with the severity of the disease NLR was two times higher in the patients who died of COVID-19 than those who recovered (P=0 000) ROC curve analysis for diagnostic values of NLR and PLR showed that the areas under the ROC curves for NLR and PLR were 0 703 (95% CI: 0 64-0 76) and 0 535 (95% CI: 0 46-06), respectively CONCLUSION: NLR can be used as a prognostic marker for COVID-19 given the significant difference of NLR between those who died and recovered from COVID-19