Abstract:

Objective　To investigate the relationship between serum albumin level and severity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods　The clinical data of 70 COVID-19 patients in Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital of Fujian Province from January 23, 2020 to March 5, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the initial serum albumin level, the enrolled patients were divided into a normal albumin group (43 cases) and a hypoalbuminemia group (27 cases). Then, the differences in both groups were analyzed about serum albumin levels and chest imaging scores on the 1^st, 7^th, and 14^th day after admission, as well as nucleic acid turning negative time. Independent sample t test was used to compare the measurement data between groups, and χ² test or Fisher's exact probability method was used to compare the count data between groups. Results　Among the 70 patients, 36 were male and 34 were female, aged (43.53±14.91) years. The patients in the hypoalbuminemia group were older (t=3.117, P=0.003) and had a higher incidence of underlying diseases (χ²=9.807, P=0.002) and cough (χ²=7.396, P=0.007) than those in the normal albumin group. The serum albumin levels in the hypoalbuminemia group were (39.66±3.77) g/L, (32.58±4.00) g/L, and (36.20±2.27) g/L on the 1^st, 7^th, and 14^th day after admission, which were lower than those in the normal albumin group [(43.55±5.67) g/L, (41.18±6.16) g/L, and (41.82±4.87) g/L], with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The chest imaging scores in the hypoalbuminemia group were (6.88±2.80) points, (6.57±2.98) points, and (4.88±2.47) points on the 1^st, 7^th, and 14^th day after admission, which were higher than those in the normal albumin group [(4.85±2.76) points, (4.58±3.21) points, and (3.45±1.74) points], with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The nucleic acid turning negative time in the hypoalbuminemia group was (22.68±4.60) d, longer than that in the normal albumin group [(19.50±5.36) d], with a statistically significant difference (t=-2.329, P=0.023). Conclusions　The serum albumin level in COVID-19 patients is closely related to the severity of patients' condition. The lower the serum albumin level in patients, the more severe the chest image and the longer the nucleic acid turning negative time.

Key words: Coronavirus disease 2019, Hypoalbuminemia, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

摘要： 目的　探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎（coronavirus disease 2019，COVID-19）患者血清白蛋白水平与患者病情的关系。方法　回顾性分析2020年1月23日至3月5日期间福建省福州肺科医院出院的70例COVID-19患者临床资料，按血清白蛋白水平将患者分为正常白蛋白组（43例）和低蛋白血症组（27例）。统计分析两组患者入院后第1、7、14天血清白蛋白水平和胸部影像学评分以及核酸转阴时间。计量资料组间比较采用独立样本t检验，计数资料组间比较采用χ²检验或Fisher确切概率法。结果　70例患者中，男36例、女34例，年龄（43.53±14.91）岁。与正常白蛋白组相比，低蛋白血症组患者的年龄更大（t=3.117，P=0.003），患基础疾病（χ²=9.807，P=0.002）和出现咳嗽（χ²=7.396，P=0.007）的比例更高。低蛋白血症组患者第1天、第7天、第14天的血清白蛋白水平分别为（39.66±3.77）g/L、（32.58±4.00）g/L、（36.20±2.27）g/L，均低于正常白蛋白组的（43.55±5.67）g/L、（41.18±6.16）g/L、（41.82±4.87）g/L，差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。低蛋白血症组患者第1天、第7天、第14天的胸部影像学评分分别为（6.88±2.80）分、（6.57±2.98）分、（4.88±2.47）分，均高于正常白蛋白组的（4.85±2.76）分、（4.58±3.21）分、（3.45±1.74）分，差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。低蛋白血症组患者核酸转阴时间为（22.68±4.60）d，长于正常白蛋白组（19.50±5.36）d，差异有统计学意义（t=-2.329，P=0.023）。结论　COVID-19患者血清白蛋白水平与患者的病情密切相关，患者血清白蛋白水平越低，胸部影像更严重，核酸转阴时间更长。

关键词: 新型冠状病毒肺炎, 低蛋白血症, 严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2