Coronavirus: Three markers in blood could identify mortality risk

Scientists have identified three biological clues in COVID-19 patients' blood samples to predict their risk of death with up to 90 per cent accuracy. Chinese researchers used machine learning to analyse blood samples of patients in Wuhan and identify the three biomarkers of mortality risk 10 days early. High levels of both an enzyme associated with tissue breakdown and a protein produced during inflammation, as well as low levels of lymphocyte white blood cells, were the key predictors. Using these markers for an early diagnosis of risk of death among people with COVID-19 is vital to prioritise care for the patients who are most at risk. The research provides a method to quickly predict patients at the highest risk, allowing them to receive urgent treatment and potentially reduce the mortality rate.