The relationship between mean platelet volume and CURB-65 in predicting hospitalization and 28-day mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the emergency department

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the combined prognostic value of Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and CURB-65 scoring in predicting hospital admission status and 28-day mortality among COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the emergency department. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia in the Adult Emergency Medicine Clinic of Ankara City Hospital. Inclusion criteria included polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity and characteristic findings on thoracic computed tomography (CT). Clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0. ROC curve analysis evaluated the prognostic performance of MPV and CURB-65. Results: Among 500 patients included in the study (55.8% male, mean age: 64 ± 14 years), 49 (9.8%) patients died within 28 days. Higher CURB-65 scores and MPV levels were significantly associated with increased 28-day mortality (p<0.001 and p=0.019, respectively). Comorbidities such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, cancer, heart failure, and stroke history were also significant predictors of mortality (p<0.05). Patients with CURB-65 scores ?3 and elevated MPV values had a markedly increased mortality risk. Moreover, thoracic CT findings such as diffuse infiltration and consolidation correlated significantly with poor outcomes (p=0.017 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The combined use of CURB-65 and MPV offers a valuable tool for predicting 28-day mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. These findings suggest the need for further studies to validate the utility of this combined approach in clinical practice.