An investigation of salivary ferritin levels in COVID-19 patients; a
case-control study
Abstract
Background: The global impact of COVID-19 necessitates effective methods
to assess disease severity, prompting the exploration of salivary
ferritin as a potential biomarker due to its roles in iron storage and
immune modulation. Methods: A case-control study comprising 60
participants (30 COVID-19 patients and 30 controls) was conducted.
Salivary samples were collected using a non-stimulatory draining
technique and analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA) for ferritin quantification. The SOFA score, reflecting disease
severity, was recorded for the case group. Statistical analyses,
including Mann-Whitney tests and partial correlation controlling for age
and sex, were performed to assess relationships between salivary
ferritin, SOFA score, and demographic variables. Results: The mean age
was 54.1 ± 18.5 years in the case group and 33.8 ± 10.0 years in the
control group. Of the participants, 48% were female and 52% were male.
The case group had a non-significantly higher mean rank of salivary
ferritin (31.30) compared to the control group (29.70) (U = 426.000, p =
.723). No significant differences were observed in ferritin levels
between COVID-19 patients and controls (p = 0.88). However, a
significant correlation emerged between salivary ferritin levels and
SOFA score (p < .001), indicating a potential link between
ferritin concentrations and disease severity. Conclusions: Results show
a non-significantly higher mean rank of salivary ferritin in COVID-19
patients. The observed correlation between salivary ferritin and SOFA
score suggests its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for assessing
disease severity, contributing to understanding COVID-19
pathophysiology. Further research is needed to validate its role in
diverse patient populations.