Lymphopenia is a decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes. Often, the number of lymphocytes decreases in patients with Covid-19. Considering the high prevalence of covid-19 disease, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between lymphopenia and prognosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and covid-19.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 patients with a positive PCR test or arterial blood oxygen less than 92% requiring oxygen who referred to the emergency department of Afzalipur Hospital in Kerman in 2021. Patients were classified and matched into 3 groups based on the number of lymphocytes. The first group: severe lymphopenia (ALC< 500/mm3), the second group: mild to moderate lymphopenia (ALC 500-1000/mm3) and the third group without lymphopenia (ALC> 1000/mm3). Demographic variables (age and gender), clinical information related to lymphocyte count, length of hospitalization, disease severity, need for ventilation, patient outcome, and arterial blood oxygen saturation were recorded using patient files. After data collection, SPSS software version 20 was used for analysis.

The average age of patients with mild lymphopenia (57.33 years) was higher than the other groups. Patients with severe lymphopenia were mostly in the acute respiratory phase (42.9%). There was only one patient in the ICU who was in the severe category of lymphopenia. 173 patients needed ventilation and 174 patients (88.8%) were discharged. The mean arterial blood oxygen saturation in patients with severe lymphopenia (90.71) was higher than the other groups. The average duration of hospitalization in 8 patients with severe lymphopenia (10.14 days) was higher than the other groups. The average of HRCT in patients with severe lymphopenia (12.42) was higher than the other groups. Severity of lymphopenia was significant according to age, disease severity, hospitalization in ICU, disease outcome, arterial blood oxygen, duration of hospitalization and HRCT. But it was not significant according to gender.

The results of our study showed that lymphopenia can be an essential parameter. Therefore, it can be said that lymphopenia and its severity levels serve as reliable predictors for clinical outcomes in the management of patients with Covid-19.