Immunological profile and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in elderly patients with COVID-19

Authors

Keywords:

Immunological; neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio; adults; COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The systemic inflammation index has established itself as a biomarker of interest because of its operational simplicity and its availability in daily practice.

Objective: To characterize the immune profile and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as prognostic factors in elderly patients with COVID-19 at the Camilo Cienfuegos General Teaching Hospital in Sancti Spíritus Province, Cuba.

Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted at the Camilo Cienfuegos General Teaching Hospital in Sancti Spíritus Province, Cuba, from January, 2022 to December, 2024. For the sample, 65 patients were selected through non-probability convenience sampling, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined for the research. The variables established for the study were: sex, age group, personal pathological history, leukogram, immunoglobulin quantification, complement fractions C3 and C4, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and the clinical course of the disease in the geriatric population.

Results: The most represented age group was 70 to 79 years (32.31%). The most frequent personal pathological histories were arterial hypertension (38.46%), followed by diabetes mellitus (26.15%). Regarding the total leukocyte count, it was found to be elevated in 49.23% of geriatric patients with COVID-19.

Conclusions: This research characterizes the immunohematological profile of geriatric patients with COVID-19, evidencing a marked dysregulation of the immune response that manifests through leukocytosis in nearly half of the cases, accompanied by significant alterations in immunoglobulin quantification, as well as fluctuations in complement fractions C3 and C4.

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Author Biography

Adrian González Méndez, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Sancti Spiritus.

Departamento de Medios de Enseñanza.

References

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Published

2026-10-12

How to Cite

1.
Rabí Casas Y, Naranjo Herrera Y, Chávez Alfonso M del C, Concepción Ulloa V, González Méndez A. Immunological profile and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in elderly patients with COVID-19. MEDISAN.Revista médica Santiago [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 12 [cited 2026 Oct. 26];30:e5732. Available from: https://medisan.sld.cu/index.php/san/article/view/5732

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Vol. 30 (2026): publicación continua

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Copyright (c) 2026 Yenisbel Rabí Casas , Yralys Naranjo Herrera, María del Carmen Chávez Alfonso , Valia Concepción Ulloa , Adrian González Méndez

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