Persistent lymphopenia after diagnosis of COVID-19 predicts acute respiratory distress syndrome: A retrospective cohort study

Background Lymphopenia is a marker of immunosuppression after severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) which characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between persistent lymphopenia and ARDS. Methods A retrospective cohort 125 patients with COVID-19 admitted government-designated treatment center 14 January 2020, 20 March 2020 was conducted. We recorded all complete blood cell counts during day 0th, 3rd, 7th following diagnosis COVID-19. Patients were grouped based on depression lymphocyte count, their return, or failure normal. The primary outcome occurrence ARDS, secondary outcomes included developing vital organ dysfunction hospital lengths stay. Results 17.6% (22/125) developed ARDS non-ARDS 0.94 × 109/L, 1.20 10 9 /L at admission, respectively ( p = 0.02). On 3rd day, median count in significantly lower than that non-ARDS. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for potentially confounding factors (including age, comorbidities, APACHE II score), showed within independently associated (OR, 3.94 [95% CI, 1.26–12.33, 0.018). Further, had longer stay < 0.001). Conclusion results predicted Further studies are needed investigate whether immunostimulation lymphocytes 1 week can reduce