Blood urea nitrogen and clinical prognosis in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the association between blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and clinical prognosis in patients with COVID-19. A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in adult patients with COVID-19 in 3 hospitals in Zhenjiang from January 2023 to May 2023. Patients were divided into survival and death group based on whether they survived at day 28. The demographic, comorbidities, and laboratory data were independently collected and analyzed, as well as clinical outcomes. Total 141 patients were enrolled and 23 (16.3%) died within 28 days. Patients who died within 28 days had a higher level of BUN compared with survivors. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BUN was a risk factor for 28-day mortality in patients with COVID-19. ROC curve showed that BUN could predict 28-day mortality of COVID-19 patients (AUC = 0.796, 95%CI: 0.654–0.938, P < .001). When the cutoff value of BUN was 7.37 mmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity were 84.62% and 70.31%. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that hyper-BUN (≥7.37 mmol/L) was associated with increased 28-day mortality among COVID-19 patients. Patients with COVID-19 who died within 28 days had a higher level of BUN, and hyper-BUN (≥7.37 mmol/L) was associated with increased 28-day mortality.