Association of Peripheral Lymphocyte and the Subset Levels With the Progression and Mortality of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Qun Lü, Zhengyin Wang, Yuan Yin, Yanrong Zhao, Ping Tao, Ping Zhong
Abstract
Current evidence is controversial in the association between peripheral lymphocyte levels and the progression and mortality of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and this meta-analysis aimed to clarify the association. A systematic search was conducted in public databases to identify all relevant studies, and the study-specific odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled. Finally, 16 studies were identified with a total of 1,873 progressive COVID-19 cases and 5,177 stable COVID-19 cases. In COVID-19 progression, lymphocyte levels showed a significant negative correlation (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51-0.89), but it was not significant in the subsets of CD3+ T cells (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.93-1.02), CD4+ T cells (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.80-1.08), CD8+ T cells (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-1.00), B cells (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.92-1.04), or NK cells (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61-1.04). In COVID-19 mortality, lymphocyte levels showed a significant negative correlation (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20-0.85), but it was not significant in the subsets of CD3+ T cells (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.86-1.05), CD4+ T cells (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.86-1.31), CD8+ T cells (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.14-1.01), B cells (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.92-1.04), or NK cells (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61-1.04). In conclusion, current evidence suggests a significant negative association of peripheral lymphocyte levels with COVID-19 progression and mortality, but it was not significant in the subsets of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and NK cells.