Results
Evaluation was made of a total of 115 children, as 55 COVID-19 positive patients and a control group of 60 healthy children, comprising 57 (49.6%) girls and 58 (50.4%) boys with a mean age of 7.93±4.50 years (range, 0-17 years). One patient was excluded as respiratory problems and high temperature developed after contagion in the hospital while in the intensive care unit after having been struck by a car. Of the COVID-19 positive patients, 54 (98.2%) had a history of contact, and 1 (1.8%) was symptomatic, with the sole symptom of high temperature.
No statistically significant difference was determined between the two groups in respect of age and gender (p>0.05). Leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet counts were lower in the COVID-19 positive cases but not to a statistically significant level (p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined in respect of CRP measurements (p>0.05). MPV measurements were determined to be statistically significantly high in COVID-19 positive cases (p<0.01) and lymphocyte levels were significantly low (p<0.01) (Table 1). MPV and lymphocyte distribution showed a significant difference between the groups (Figure 1).
The MPV measurements were found to be higher and the lymphocyte counts were lower in the COVID-19 positive cases than in the control group (Table 1). From this significance, the cutoff points for MPV and lymphocytes were calculated. ROC curve analysis was applied in the determination of the cutoff points according to the groups (Figure 2).
The cutoff point for MPV measurements in the COVID-19 test groups was determined as ≥8.74 fl. For this cutoff point of 8.74fl for MPV, sensitivity was determined as 81.82%, specificity as 95% and the area under the curve (AUC) in the ROC curve analysis was 0.932 with standard error of 2.3%. The cutoff value of <2.12/mm3 for lymphocytes was determined with 49.09% sensitivity and 86.67% specificity, AUC of 0.670 and standard error of 5.3% (Table 2).
The risk of COVID-19 positivity was determined to be 85.5-fold greater in cases with MPV ≥8.74 fl (ODDS ratio: 85.5, 95% CI:22.207-329.18).
The risk of COVID-19 positivity was determined to be 6.268-fold greater in cases with lymphocyte level of ≤2.12mm3 (ODDS ratio: 6.268, 95% CI:2.515-15.168).