Table 1.
Characteristics of patients with COVID-19 according to serum zinc levels
| Total number of patients | Zinc levels < 70 μg/dL | Zinc levels 70 ≥ μg/dL | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient number, n (%) | 100 (100) | 11 (100) | 89 (100) | - |
| Age, years (IOR) | 13.3 (16.3–15.4) | 14.1 (4.8–16.3) | 13.3 (8.1–15.2) | 0.573 |
| Sex (%) | 0.338* | |||
| Girl | 56 (56) | 8 (72.7) | 48 (53.9) | |
| Boy | 44 (44) | 3 (27.3) | 41 (46.1) | |
| Number of people living in the same house, median (IQR) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (3–5) | 4 (4–5) | 0.154 |
| Number of people in the house diagnosed with COVID-19 | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 0.698 |
| Underlying medical condition (%) | 8 (8) | 2 (18.2) | 6 (6.7) | 0.213* |
| Neurological disease (%) | 3 (3) | 1 (9.1) | 2 (2.2) | - |
| Asthma (%) | 3 (3) | 1(9.1) | 2 (2.2) | - |
| Diabetes (%) | 1 (1) | - | 1 (1.1) | - |
| Hipotroidi (%) | 1 (1) | - | 1 (1.1.) | - |
| Hospitalization, n (%) | 15 (15) | 5 (45.5) | 10 (11.2) | 0.011* |
| Duration of hospitalization, days, mean (SD) | 4.9 (± 2.6) | 4 (± 1.8) | 5.4 (± 2.9) | 0.360 |
| Clinical features at presentation | ||||
| Fever, n (%) | 39 (39) | 6 (54.5) | 33 (37.1) | 0.331* |
| Dry cough (%) | 25 (25) | 4 (35.4) | 21 (23.6) | 0.460* |
| Runny nose, n (%) | 10 (10) | 3 (27.3) | 7 (7.9) | 0.078* |
| Sore throat (%) | 16 (16) | 2 (18.2) | 14 (15.7) | 1.000* |
| Muscle ache (%) | 12 (12) | 2 (18.2) | 10 (11.2) | 0.618* |
| Abdominal pain (%) | 10 (10) | 1 (9.1) | 9 (10.1) | 1.000* |
| Diarrhea (%) | 11 (11) | 2 (18.2) | 9 (10.1) | 0.347* |
| Shortness of breath | 5 (5) | 2 (18.2) | 3 (3.4) | 0.092* |
| Laboratory values | ||||
| Total white blood cell count cells × 103/μL median (IQR) | 5.7 (4.80–7.57) | 4.8 (3.80–6.80) | 5.8 (4.95–7.60) | 0.227 |
| Neutrophil count cells × 103/μL median (IQR) | 3.1 (2.15–4.00) | 3.1 (2.20–4.05) | 3.1 (2.20–4.05) | 0.941 |
| Lymphocyte count cells × 103/μL median (IQR) | 1.8 (1.3–2.6) | 1.5 (0.9–2.7) | 1.9 (1.3–2.6) | 0.227 |
| Platelet count cells × 103/μL median (IQR) | 247 (195–192) | 206 (176–288) | 249 (199– 294.5) | 0.570 |
| Hemoglobin g/dL mean (IQR) | 13.1 (12.4–14) | 13 (12.40–13.90) | 13.2 (12.3–14.15) | 1.000 |
| CRP mg/L. median (IQR) | 2.4 (0.80–6.12) | 2.6 (0.80–8.80) | 2.2 (0.80–5.50) | 1.000 |
| Ferritin µg/L median (IQR) | 31.4 (24–52.9) | 33 (12.2–46.7) | 31 (24–56.9) | 1.000 |
| LDH U/L median (IQR) | 218 (184–268) | 195 (181–252) | 220 (185–270) | 1.000 |
| Creatinine Kinase U/L median (IQR) | 91 (65–113.5) | 71 (61–104) | 95.5 (68–113.7) | 0.170 |
| D-dimer µg/L. median (IQR) | 330 (200–470) | 240 (190–380) | 340 (200–512.5) | 0.546 |
| Severity of COVID-19 (%) | 0.153* | |||
| Asymptomatic (%) | 43 (43) | 3 (27.3) | 40 (44.9) | |
| Mild (%) | 44 (44) | 5 (45.5) | 39 (43.8) | |
| Moderate (%) | 12 (12) | 3 (27.3) | 9 (10.1) | |
| Severe (%) | - | - | - | |
| Critical (%) | 1 (1) | - | 1 (1.1.) | |
| Serum zinc levels, median(IQR) | 88.5 (77.2–100) | 60 (51–66) | 90 (79–100) | - |
*Fisher's exact probability test was used for cross-classification tables