Differences in the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and the platelet/lymphocyte ratio in pregnant women with and without COVID-19

Objective To determine the differences in the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in pregnant women with and without COVID-19. Methods Observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, comparative, open, controlled study done from January to April 2021 at the UMAE Hospital de Gineco Obstetricia Luis Castelazo Ayala Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Mexico City, Mexico: Patients were divided into those with a negative test for COVID-19 and those with a positive test, with the latter then being divided according to disease severity into mild, moderate, and severe groups. In all the NLR and PLR were calculated. Symptoms, vital signs, and oxygen saturation were documented. Statistical analysis: Central tendency and dispersion measures, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-squared test were used. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and odds ratio (OR) were calculated. Results Seventy-seven patients were included, 24 without COVID-19 and 53 with COVID-19. There were 33, 10, and 10 patients in the mild, moderate, and severe disease groups, respectively. There was no difference in NLR between the groups and the PLR was significantly higher in the severe disease group. With a 5.1 NLR cutoff point, between normal and those with severe disease, the sensitivity was 70% and specificity 63%, whilst with a 221 PLR cutoff point, the sensitivity was 90% and the specificity 83% (OR 45, 95% CI 4.40-461.7). Conclusion PLR more than NLR was useful to detect pregnant patients with COVID-19 with severe disease.

Automated summary

This study found that platelet/lymphocyte ratio was more useful than neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in detecting pregnant patients with COVID-19 with severe disease.