The real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction threshold cycle values for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 predict the prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia

Abstract

The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies from mild to critical. We retrospectively examined whether clinical and laboratory findings on admission could predict COVID-19 prognosis. Among various factors associated with COVID-19 severity, our results indicated that the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) threshold cycle (Ct) values for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were the most useful predictor of COVID-19 prognosis.