June 24, 2020

Risk Factors for 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Patients Progressing to Critical Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

• In a meta-analysis of 20 studies, Xu et al. found that gender, advanced age, higher BMI, and comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are associated with higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease. In addition, several laboratory measures were also associated with severe disease, notably: high white blood cell count, low lymphocyte count, low albumin, high ALT/AST, LDH, C-reactive protein, and creatine kinase. 

Xu et al. (June 23, 2020). Risk Factors for 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Patients Progressing to Critical Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aging. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103383