Correlation between CRP levels and RALE Score in COVID-19 patients with hypertension

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Hypertension is one of the comorbidities of COVID-19 which has a 1.442 times greater risk of worsening the body's condition than patients without hypertension. Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) score is a radiologic numerical scoring system in determining the severity of lung lesions based on the degree of consolidation and density of opacification on chest X-rays. Examination of CRP levels in COVID-19 patients is the initial examination of hospital admission to assess the inflammation that occurs. Therefore, the researcher aims to analyze the correlation of the CRP level examination in representing the severity of COVID-19 disease experienced by patients using the RALE score. The research method used was cross sectional analytic observational method. The subjects in the study were patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with comorbid hypertension at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta in March 2021 - March 2022. The data obtained were then analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rho bivariate correlation analysis. The results analyzed from 115 patient samples obtained the mean RALE score was 13.75. As for CRP levels, this study obtained an average of 8.0473 mg/dl. In this study, there was a significant correlation with a weak correlation level and one way correlation direction between RALE score and CRP levels (p = 0,02; r = 0.287). In conclusion, There is a significant relationship between the RALE score of thoracic photographs and CRP levels of COVID-19 patients with hypertension