Abstract:

Background: Patients with COVID-19 may develop several electrolyte imbalances that can cause multiple clinical complications. Muscle ATP synthesis decrease due to low serum phosphorous levels may also cause respiratory muscle weakness. We investigated the predictive power of serum phosphorus levels in patients with hospitalized COVID-19. Material and Methods: Our retrospective and observational study was carried out for 957 patients who suffered from SARS-CoV-2 diagnosed by real-time PCR testing and hospitalized due to moderate or severe pneumonia due to COVID-19. Results: Among 957 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, 387 (40,4%) were moderate and 570 (59,6%) were severe. Although they were within the reference range, the phosphorus levels were significantly lower in severe patients. Our final analysis showed that age, respiratory rate, d-dimer, and phosphorus level were independent risk factors for disease severity. Phosphorus level was found to have a negative correlation with respiratory rate (r: 0,091, p=0,005) and positive with SPO2 (r: 0,069, p=0,03). Conclusion: Our results suggest that phosphorus level has a prognostic significance due to its correlation with the respiratory rate and must be considered to be an independent risk factor for the patient status, especially in severe cases. It is concluded that phosphorus monitoring, at least in severe patients, may prevent serious clinical consequences such as respiratory insufficiency.

Keywords: