To study the correlation between smoking (pack years) and ct severity score in covid 19 rtpcr positive patients – short retrospective study and also study it’s effect on covid 19 biomarkers

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by SARS (SARS-COV2). It is a large family of virus that are known to cause illnesses ranging from common cold to pneumonia to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The effect of smoking on COVI D 19 is under consideration. This study is aimed to evaluate the relationship between smoking (Pack years) and CT severity score and its effect on COVID 19 linked biomarkers in COVID-19 RTPCR positive patients. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted between March 2021 to July 2021 on 50 adult COVID-19 RTPCR positive patients admitted in COVID ward and ICU in GMC, Kota. Their CTSS and biomarkers (CRP, D-Dimer, LDH, IL-6 and S. Ferrtin) were obtained at the time of admission and smoking history was obtained for the study. Results: The CT severity score was found to be high in patients with more pack years. The Pearson Correlation ‘r’ value was calculated as 0.575475 with a p-value of 0.000012 at 5% level of significance which is highly significant. COVID-19 linked biomarkers and its association with pack years was also evaluated. P-values at 5% level of significance for the biomarkers are CRP=0.03359, D-Dimer=0.219884, LDH=0.000028, IL-6=0.186538 and Serum Ferritin=0.00001. Conclusion: CT severity score is high in smokers and shows significant p-Value at 0.05 and is associated with poor prognosis. CRP, LDH and S. Ferritin are found to be significantly raised in smokers suffering from COVID 19 disease, out of which S. Ferritin is more significantly raised as compared to other significant markers.