Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19

Background and Objective: The COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was declared as pandemic by WHO soon after its emergence in 2019. This virus was known to cause serious clinical symptoms and severe illness. By using RT-PCR, which reports the cycle threshold value, the disease is diagnosed, wherea...

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Main Authors: Shweta Singhal, Geetika Rana, Atul K. Singh, Shekhar Pal, Shweta Thaledi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1011_24
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author Shweta Singhal
Geetika Rana
Atul K. Singh
Shekhar Pal
Shweta Thaledi
author_facet Shweta Singhal
Geetika Rana
Atul K. Singh
Shekhar Pal
Shweta Thaledi
author_sort Shweta Singhal
collection DOAJ
description Background and Objective: The COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was declared as pandemic by WHO soon after its emergence in 2019. This virus was known to cause serious clinical symptoms and severe illness. By using RT-PCR, which reports the cycle threshold value, the disease is diagnosed, whereas for the severity of the disease, biomarker levels, like IL-6, CRP, D-dimer, serum ferritin and serum procalcitonin, can be measured. We, thus, aimed to explore any potential correlation of the cycle threshold value and biomarker level with the outcome of COVID-19-positive hospitalized patients. Method: Patients with the cycle threshold (Ct) value <35 were included in the study and their initial Ct values were noted. Different biochemical parameters, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin, D-dimer, Interleukin-6 and serum procalcitonin, were assessed for severity. They were classified according to Ct value into three groups: Group 1 >30.0, Group 2 20.0–30.0 and Group 3 <20.0. Results: The study included 370 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a mean age (mean ± SD) of 51.08 (16.58%) years and 250 (67.5%) males and 120 (32.4%) females. Comparison of data with outcome shows that IL-6, CRP amongst the biomarker and Ct value (deduced by RT-PCR test) were significantly correlated with the mortality (P value < 0.05). The ROC curve was also plotted for these parameters, which shows that IL-6, CRP, PCT and Ct value were better prognostic marker. Poor prognosis was found in Group 2 (Ct value 20.0–30.0) patients compared to Group 1 and Group 3. There was significant correlation (P value < 0.05) between Ct value and outcome of the patient. Interpretation and Conclusion: This study depicts that low Ct value and elevated levels of IL-6 and CRP can be used as a screening tool to detect the mortality in COVID-19 patients as they are significantly correlated with the mortality.
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spelling doaj-art-aa9f68951ad24438822c107af0c680de2025-02-11T13:56:55ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352025-01-0114139039410.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1011_24Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19Shweta SinghalGeetika RanaAtul K. SinghShekhar PalShweta ThalediBackground and Objective: The COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was declared as pandemic by WHO soon after its emergence in 2019. This virus was known to cause serious clinical symptoms and severe illness. By using RT-PCR, which reports the cycle threshold value, the disease is diagnosed, whereas for the severity of the disease, biomarker levels, like IL-6, CRP, D-dimer, serum ferritin and serum procalcitonin, can be measured. We, thus, aimed to explore any potential correlation of the cycle threshold value and biomarker level with the outcome of COVID-19-positive hospitalized patients. Method: Patients with the cycle threshold (Ct) value <35 were included in the study and their initial Ct values were noted. Different biochemical parameters, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin, D-dimer, Interleukin-6 and serum procalcitonin, were assessed for severity. They were classified according to Ct value into three groups: Group 1 >30.0, Group 2 20.0–30.0 and Group 3 <20.0. Results: The study included 370 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a mean age (mean ± SD) of 51.08 (16.58%) years and 250 (67.5%) males and 120 (32.4%) females. Comparison of data with outcome shows that IL-6, CRP amongst the biomarker and Ct value (deduced by RT-PCR test) were significantly correlated with the mortality (P value < 0.05). The ROC curve was also plotted for these parameters, which shows that IL-6, CRP, PCT and Ct value were better prognostic marker. Poor prognosis was found in Group 2 (Ct value 20.0–30.0) patients compared to Group 1 and Group 3. There was significant correlation (P value < 0.05) between Ct value and outcome of the patient. Interpretation and Conclusion: This study depicts that low Ct value and elevated levels of IL-6 and CRP can be used as a screening tool to detect the mortality in COVID-19 patients as they are significantly correlated with the mortality.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1011_24biomarkercovid-19outcomesensitivityseverityspecificity
spellingShingle Shweta Singhal
Geetika Rana
Atul K. Singh
Shekhar Pal
Shweta Thaledi
Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
biomarker
covid-19
outcome
sensitivity
severity
specificity
title Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19
title_full Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19
title_fullStr Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19
title_full_unstemmed Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19
title_short Correlation of the cycle threshold value of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19
title_sort correlation of the cycle threshold value of sars cov 2 by rt pcr with biomarker levels in the prognosis of patients hospitalized with covid 19
topic biomarker
covid-19
outcome
sensitivity
severity
specificity
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1011_24
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AT atulksingh correlationofthecyclethresholdvalueofsarscov2byrtpcrwithbiomarkerlevelsintheprognosisofpatientshospitalizedwithcovid19
AT shekharpal correlationofthecyclethresholdvalueofsarscov2byrtpcrwithbiomarkerlevelsintheprognosisofpatientshospitalizedwithcovid19
AT shwetathaledi correlationofthecyclethresholdvalueofsarscov2byrtpcrwithbiomarkerlevelsintheprognosisofpatientshospitalizedwithcovid19