The Relationship Between Zinc Levels, Length of Hospital Stay, and Mortality in Intensive Care Unit of COVID-19 Patients
Halit Kızılet, Recai Aci, Adem Keskin, Utku Duran
Ain Shams Medical Journal, doi:10.21608/asmj.2024.311563.1297
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between disease severity and serum Zinc(Zn) levels in COVID-19 patients.
Materials and Methods: The study included 153 COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR test, were divided into two groups according to the severity of the disease: hospitalized COVID-19 patients (n=81) and intensive care unit patients (n=72). Additionally, 78 healthy controls were included. Serum levels of various biomarkers, including WBC, Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, Monocyte, Platelet, PT, APTT, INR, D-Dimer, CRP, PCT, Ferritin, and Zinc, were measured for all participants. Demographic data and length of hospitalization were also recorded.
Results: The study found significant differences between the groups in age, hospitalizations, chronic disease, and length of hospital stay (p≤0.001). COVID-19 patients had lower median zinc levels (89μg/dl) compared to healthy individuals (99.50μg/ dl), and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.023). As zinc levels increased, the CORADS score decreased (r=-0.248, p=0.031). There was an inverse relationship between zinc level and intensive care unit admission, indicating that lower zinc levels were associated with a higher probability of intensive care hospitalization (r=-0.260, p=0.023).
Conclusion: This study showed that COVID-19 patients had significantly lower zinc levels than healthy individuals. The difference between the average zinc level of COVID-19 patients and the average zinc level of healthy individuals were found to be statistically significant. Additionally, a significant inverse relationship were found between zinc level and intensive care unit hospitalization; As the zinc level decreases, the likelihood of being hospitalized in intensive care increases.
ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL The study design and the consent form were approved by the clinical research ethics committee of Samsun University under protocols (2021/4/8).
INFORMED CONSENT Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants in the study.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
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