Investigation of the relationship between vascular events and copeptin levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of copeptin levels on the prediction of COVID-19-associated vascular events and mortality. Methods This prospective observational study included 172 patients with COVID-19. In this study, the role of copeptin was assessed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients for in-hospital mortality, need for advanced ventilator support, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and vascular events. We performed a regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for major ischemic events and in-hospital mortality in our study population. Results During the hospitalization period of 172 patients, 24 had major ischemic events, 45 were admitted to the ICU, 43 needed advanced ventilator support, and 33 died. Regression analysis revealed that the copeptin level was an independent risk factor for both major ischemic events and in-hospital mortality. A cut-off value of 5.161 for copeptin level was associated with 54.2 % sensitivity and 85.1 % specificity (AUC: 0.727; 95 % CI: 0.654–0.792) in the prediction of major ischemic events, and a cut-off value of 3.304 for copeptin level was associated with 51.5 % sensitivity and 71.9 % specificity (AUC: 0.633; 95 % CI: 0.556–0.705) for predicting in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Copeptin is a promising biomarker for predicting mortality and major ischemic events in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Copeptin levels were significantly higher in ICU-admitted patients and those needing advanced ventilatory support. Copeptin may serve as an effective marker for identifying COVID-19 patients who can benefit from closer monitoring or early intensification of care.