The characteristics and predictive role of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients
Wenjing Zhang, Lei Li, Jihai Liu, Li Chen, Fangfang Zhou, Ting Jin, Lin Jiang, Xiang Li, Ming Yang, Hongxiang Wang
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics and predictive roles of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients.MethodWe evaluated lymphocyte subsets and other clinical features of COVID-19 patients, and analyzed their potential impacts on COVID-19 outcomes.Results1. Lymphocyte subset counts in the peripheral blood of patients with COVID-19 were significantly reduced, especially in patients with severe disease. 2. In patients with non-severe disease, the time from symptom onset to hospital admission was positively correlated with total T cell counts. 3. Among COVID-19 patients who did not reach the composite endpoint, lymphocyte subset counts were higher than in patients who had reached the composite endpoint. 4. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed significant differences in COVID-19 patients, classified by the levels of total, CD8+, and CD4+ T cells at admission.ConclusionOur study showed that total, CD8+, and CD4+ T cell counts in patients with COVID-19 were significantly reduced, especially in patients with severe disease. Lower T lymphocyte subsets were significantly associated with a higher occurrence of composite endpoint events. These subsets may help identify patients with a high risk of composite endpoint events.