biostudies-literatureUnknown10(12)Galassi AA cytokine storm drives the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 infection and several biomarkers have been linked to mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) emerged as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. We investigated the association between selected biomarkers and mortality in 77 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, and whether they differ in patients with eGFR higher and lower than 45 mL/min. The association between patients' characteristics, plasma biomarkers and mortality was conducted by univariate logistic regression models and independent predictors of mortality were then used to create a multivariate prediction model through Cox regression. Patients with lower eGFR had a significant increase of GDF-15, CD-25 and RAGE, with higher plasma levels in non-survivors and in patients who needed ventilation. At univariate analysis, low and mid-low GDF-15 quartiles (<4.45 ng/mL) were associated with lower mortality risk, while mid-high and high quartiles (>4.45 ng/mL) were associated with higher mortality risk. Independent association between GDF-15 quartiles and mortality risk was confirmed in the Cox model and adjusted for eGFR, age, fever and dyspnea (HR 2.28, CI 1.53-3.39, p < 0.0001). The strength of the association between GDF-15 quartiles and mortality risk increased in patients with lower compared to higher eGFR (HR 2.53, CI 1.34-4.79 versus HR 1.99, CI 1.17-3.39). Our findings may suggest a further investigation of the effect of GDF-15 signaling pathway inhibition in CKD.Biomedicines3251https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9775159biostudies-literatureGrowth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) Levels Associate with Lower Survival in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with COVID-19.PMC9775159D'Arminio Monforte AGalassi AArtioli LYellenki VBono VMarchetti GRovito RTincati CHadla MCozzolino MSala MMagagnoli LCiceri PfalseGrowth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) Levels Associate with Lower Survival in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with COVID-19.A cytokine storm drives the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 infection and several biomarkers have been linked to mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) emerged as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. We investigated the association between selected biomarkers and mortality in 77 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, and whether they differ in patients with eGFR higher and lower than 45 mL/min. The association between patients' characteristics, plasma biomarkers and mortality was conducted by univariate logistic regression models and independent predictors of mortality were then used to create a multivariate prediction model through Cox regression. Patients with lower eGFR had a significant increase of GDF-15, CD-25 and RAGE, with higher plasma levels in non-survivors and in patients who needed ventilation. At univariate analysis, low and mid-low GDF-15 quartiles (<4.45 ng/mL) were associated with lower mortality risk, while mid-high and high quartiles (>4.45 ng/mL) were associated with higher mortality risk. Independent association between GDF-15 quartiles and mortality risk was confirmed in the Cox model and adjusted for eGFR, age, fever and dyspnea (HR 2.28, CI 1.53-3.39, p < 0.0001). The strength of the association between GDF-15 quartiles and mortality risk increased in patients with lower compared to higher eGFR (HR 2.53, CI 1.34-4.79 versus HR 1.99, CI 1.17-3.39). Our findings may suggest a further investigation of the effect of GDF-15 signaling pathway inhibition in CKD.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Dec2025-04-21T23:15:43.608Z2025-04-05T19:06:13.501ZS-EPMC97751593655200710.3390/biomedicines10123251