Soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels on admission associated with mortality in coronavirus disease 2019

OBJECTIVES: Early and simple detection of high-risk groups is crucial for minimizing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related deaths. Soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL2R) have been suspected as being prognostic markers for infectious diseases. This study validated the usefulness of sIL2R as a marker for deaths related to COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective observational study enrolled participants who showed positive results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA admitted to the current hospital between 01 April and 30 September 2020. Of the 102 patients enrolled in this study, sIL2R levels were measured in 87 patients. For comparisons between survival and non-survival groups, potential confounding variables were entered into univariate models, and variables showing significant correlations (p < 0.05) in those models were added to a multivariate model. RESULTS: Being aged ≥60 years and sIL2R levels ≥1060 U/ml were significantly associated with mortality on univariate analyses; only sIL2R levels significantly correlated with mortality on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Further, sequential sIL2R levels in three patients were increased at progression or death. CONCLUSION: SIL2R on admission and sequential monitoring of sIL2R might reflect disease severity.