The key COVID-19 findings in biomarkers, distilled into a clear, readable brief. The evidence is here whenever you want to go deeper.
INSIDE THIS MONITOR
61cited sources
3available findings
Study findings updated
AI-assisted evidence summary. For general information. These findings are not individual medical advice or a clinician endorsement.
THE SHORT VERSION
What’s worth knowing.
The key findings, what they mean, and the context that matters.
THE HEADLINE TAKEAWAY
Elevated C-reactive protein was linked to severe COVID-19
A systematic review and meta-analysis of COVID-19 hospitalisations reported an association between elevated C-reactive protein and severe COVID-19.
The cutoff defining elevated C-reactive protein, measurement timeframe and named reference group are not available in this summary, so the reported magnitude is not displayed.
See the evidence
Higher risk of severe COVID-19 with elevated CRP
4.4x
Malik P, Patel U, Mehta D, et al. Biomarkers and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalisations: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2021;26(3):107-108.
Malik P, Patel U, Mehta D, et al. Biomarkers and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalisations: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2021;26(3):107-108.
Plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA was associated with COVID-19 severity
A systematic review and meta-analysis reported associations between plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA levels and COVID-19 severity, and between elevated levels and development of COVID-19.
The populations, compared groups, measurement scale and timeframe are not available in this summary. The numerical differences are not displayed, and test accuracy cannot be determined.
See the evidence
Association between cf-mtDNA levels and COVID-19 disease severity
MD 1.08; p=0.004 95% CI: 0.35-1.82
Souza, Felipe C DE et al.. Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. 2026.
Association between elevated cf-mtDNA levels and the development of COVID-19
MD 0.70; p<0.001 95% CI: 0.39-1.01
Souza, Felipe C DE et al.. Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. 2026.
Cell-free mitochondrial DNA was linked to severity and development
The systematic review and meta-analysis reported associations between plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA levels and COVID-19 severity, and between elevated levels and development of COVID-19.
The populations, compared groups, measurement scale and timeframe are not available in this summary. The numerical differences are not displayed, and test accuracy cannot be determined.
Study details & original results
Souza, Felipe C DE et al.. Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. 2026.
Association between cf-mtDNA levels and COVID-19 disease severity
MD 1.08; p=0.004 95% CI: 0.35-1.82
Association between elevated cf-mtDNA levels and the development of COVID-19
Dates show when findings were added here, not when papers were published. Study populations and comparisons differ.
WHEN YOU WANT TO GO DEEPERSee all 3 findingsOriginal results, comparisons and study details.
2 of 2 source groupsFindings stay together with their study.
SOURCE 612 findings
Souza, Felipe C DE et al.. Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. 2026.
Malik P, Patel U, Mehta D, et al. Biomarkers and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalisations: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2021;26(3):107-108.
Browse the 61 original sourcesThe complete bibliography behind this monitor.
[1]
Malik P, Patel U, Mehta D, et al. Biomarkers and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalisations: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2021;26(3):107-108.
Huang I, Pranata R, Lim MA, et al. C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, D-dimer, and ferritin in severe coronavirus disease-2019: a meta-analysis. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. 2020;14:1753466620937175.
Cheng L, Li H, Li L, et al. Ferritin in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis. 2020;34(10):e23618.
Lippi G, Plebani M. Procalcitonin in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A meta-analysis. Clinica Chimica Acta. 2020;505:190-191.
Henry BM, Aggarwal G, Wong J, et al. Lactate dehydrogenase levels predict coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality: A pooled analysis. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020;38(9):1722-1726.
Zhao Q, Meng M, Kumar R, et al. Lymphopenia is associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections: A systemic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020;96:131-135.
Li X, Liu C, Mao Z, et al. Predictive values of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Care. 2020;24(1):647.
Lippi G, Plebani M, Henry BM. Thrombocytopenia is associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections: A meta-analysis. Clinica Chimica Acta. 2020;506:145-148.
Yao Y, Cao J, Wang Q, et al. D-dimer as a biomarker for disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients: a case control study. Journal of Intensive Care. 2020;8:49.
Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1054-1062.
Santoso A, Pranata R, Wibowo A, et al. Cardiac injury is associated with mortality and critically ill pneumonia in COVID-19: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021;44:352-357.
Caro-Codon J, Rey JR, Buno A, et al. Characterization of NT-proBNP in a large cohort of COVID-19 patients. European Journal of Heart Failure. 2021;23(3):456-464.
Deeks JJ, Dinnes J, Takwoingi Y, et al. Antibody tests for identification of current and past infection with SARS-CoV-2. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020;6(6):CD013652.
RECOVERY Collaborative Group. Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. Lancet. 2021;397(10285):1637-1645.
REMAP-CAP Investigators. Interleukin-6 Receptor Antagonists in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;384(16):1491-1502.
ATTACC Investigators; ACTIV-4a Investigators; REMAP-CAP Investigators. Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Heparin in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;385(9):777-789.
INSPIRATION Investigators. Effect of Intermediate-Dose vs Standard-Dose Prophylactic Anticoagulation on Thrombotic Events Among Patients With COVID-19. JAMA. 2021;325(16):1620-1630.
Beigel JH, Tomashek KM, Dodd LE, et al. Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 - Final Report. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;383(19):1813-1826.
Hammond J, Leister-Tebbe H, Gardner A, et al. Oral Nirmatrelvir for High-Risk, Nonhospitalized Adults with Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;386(15):1397-1408.
Docherty AB, Harrison EM, Green CA, et al. Features of 20133 UK patients in hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol. BMJ. 2020;369:m1985.
Shi S, Qin M, Shen B, et al. Association of Cardiac Injury With Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Cardiology. 2020;5(7):802-810.
Guo T, Fan Y, Chen M, et al. Cardiovascular Implications of Fatal Outcomes of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiology. 2020;5(7):811-818.
Tan L, Wang Q, Zhang D, et al. Lymphopenia predicts disease severity of COVID-19: a descriptive and predictive study. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 2020;5(1):33.
Chen G, Wu D, Guo W, et al. Clinical and immunological features of severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2020;130(5):2620-2629.
Davis HE, Assaf GS, McCorkell L, et al. Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;38:101019.
Peluso MJ, Lu S, Tang AF, et al. Markers of Immune Activation and Inflammation in Individuals With Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2021;224(11):1839-1848.
Files JK, Sarber KM, Bates MI, et al. Sustained cellular immune dysregulation in individuals recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2021;131(1):e140491.
Kanberg N, Ashton NJ, Andersson LM, et al. Neurochemical evidence of astrocytic and neuronal injury commonly found in COVID-19. Neurology. 2020;95(12):e1754-e1759.
Frontera JA, Boutajangout A, Masurkar AV, et al. Comparison of serum neurodegenerative biomarkers among hospitalized COVID-19 patients versus non-COVID subjects. Alzheimer's and Dementia. 2022;18(5):899-910.
Bao C, Liu X, Zhang H, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) CT Findings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2020;17(6):701-709.
Salehi S, Abedi A, Balakrishnan S, Gholamrezanezhad A. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review of Imaging Findings in 919 Patients. AJR American Journal of Roentgenology. 2020;215(1):87-93.
Francone M, Iafrate F, Masci GM, et al. Chest CT score in COVID-19 patients: correlation with disease severity and short-term prognosis. European Radiology. 2020;30(12):6808-6817.
Li K, Wu J, Wu F, et al. The Clinical and Chest CT Features Associated With Severe and Critical COVID-19 Pneumonia. Investigative Radiology. 2020;55(6):327-331.
Pulliam JRC, van Schalkwyk C, Govender N, et al. Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of Omicron in South Africa. Science. 2022;376(6593):eabn4947.
Knight SR, Ho A, Pius R, et al. Risk stratification of patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol: 4C Mortality Score. BMJ. 2020;370:m3339.
Ji D, Zhang D, Xu J, et al. Prediction for Progression Risk in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia: The CALL Score. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2020;71(6):1393-1399.
Liang W, Liang H, Ou L, et al. Development and Validation of a Clinical Risk Score to Predict Critical Illness in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2020;180(8):1081-1089.
Feldstein LR, Rose EB, Horwitz SM, et al. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in U.S. Children and Adolescents. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;383(4):334-346.
Dufort EM, Koumans EH, Chow EJ, et al. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in New York State. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;383(4):347-358.
Herold T, Jurinovic V, Arnreich C, et al. Elevated levels of IL-6 and CRP predict the need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;146(1):128-136.
Souza, Felipe C DE et al.. Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. 2026.
This is an AI-assisted evidence summary, not a clinician endorsement. Read each original paper for its complete methods, population and limitations. Different studies can ask different questions and report different kinds of results.
Dates marked “added” describe when a finding entered this monitor, not when the study was published or clinically reviewed. Personal health and treatment decisions belong in a conversation with a qualified clinician.