AIMS The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized as highly contagious and deadly; however there is no credible and convenient biomarker to predict the severity of the disease. The aim of the present study was to estimate whether the CRP level is able to act as a marker in indicating the severity of COVID-19. METHODS Patients who complained cough or chest pain with or without fever were enrolled after laboratory confirmed of SARS-CoV-2 viral nucleic acid via qRT-PCR. Chest computed tomography (CT) was then performed to classify the patients into mild, moderate and severe pneumonia groups according to the interim management guideline. Then linear regression models were applied to analyze the association between c-reactive protein (CRP) levels and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. RESULTS When compared to mild pneumonia, the adjusted-Odds Ratio were 11.46, p = 0.029 and 23.40, p = 0.025 in moderate and severe pneumonia, respectively. The area under receiver operation curve was 0.898 (95% CI 0.835, 0.962, p < 0.001). Higher plasma CRP level indicated severe COVID-19 pneumonia and longer inpatients duration. CONCLUSIONS The level of plasma CRP was positively correlated to the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. Our findings could assist to discern patients of moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia from the mild ones. Our findings may be useful as an earlier indicator for severe illness and help physicians to stratify patients for intense care unit transfer.

中文翻译：

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血浆CRP水平与COVID-19的严重程度呈正相关。

目的2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）具有高度传染性和致命性; 但是，没有可靠且方便的生物标志物来预测疾病的严重程度。本研究的目的是评估CRP水平是否能够作为指示COVID-19严重程度的标志。方法经qRT-PCR实验室确认SARS-CoV-2病毒核酸后，对有咳嗽或胸痛伴发烧或不发烧的患者进行研究。然后根据临时管理指南进行胸部计算机断层扫描（CT）将患者分为轻度，中度和重度肺炎组。然后应用线性回归模型分析c反应蛋白（CRP）水平与COVID-19肺炎严重程度之间的关系。结果与轻度肺炎相比，在中度和重度肺炎中，校正后的赔率分别为11.46，p = 0.029和23.40，p = 0.025。接收器工作曲线下的面积为0.898（95％CI 0.835，0.962，p <0.001）。血浆CRP水平升高表明严重的COVID-19肺炎和住院时间更长。结论血浆CRP水平与COVID-19肺炎的严重程度呈正相关。我们的发现可以帮助区分中度至重度COVID-19肺炎患者与轻度患者。我们的研究结果可能会用作严重疾病的早期指标，并有助于医生对患者进行重症监护病房转移。血浆CRP水平升高表明严重的COVID-19肺炎和住院时间更长。结论血浆CRP水平与COVID-19肺炎的严重程度呈正相关。我们的发现可帮助区分中度至重度COVID-19肺炎患者与轻度患者。我们的研究结果可能会用作严重疾病的早期指标，并有助于医生对患者进行重症监护病房转移。血浆CRP水平升高表明严重的COVID-19肺炎和住院时间更长。结论血浆CRP水平与COVID-19肺炎的严重程度呈正相关。我们的发现可以帮助区分中度至重度COVID-19肺炎与轻度患者。我们的研究结果可能会作为严重疾病的早期指标有用，并有助于医生对患者进行重病房转移。