Ferritin – Could this be a marker for mortality in the pandemic?

Ferritin is a serum protein related to iron levels in the blood, found to be elevated in severe COVID-19. • 0:51

Ferritin may indicate silent macrophage inflammation, similar to hypertension as a silent killer. • 1:45

Monitoring ferritin levels could be crucial for certain cohorts at risk of long-term inflammatory processes. • 2:07

Highlighting the importance of discussing ferritin levels with clinicians for potential interventions. • 3:54

Excess mortality trend observed in Singapore from 2020 to 2022, indicating a rise in resident deaths. • 4:25

Elevated ferritin levels and macrophage activation possibly contributing to the observed mortality trends. • 4:51

Higher death rates in older age groups, with 80+ age group showing a significant increase in 2021 compared to previous years. • 6:11

Mitigation strategies may have helped reduce excess deaths, but the impact of autoimmune processes on mortality needs further investigation. • 6:37

Excess deaths potentially linked to underlying medical conditions exacerbated by COVID-19 infections within the past 90 days. • 7:08

Research on ferritin is lacking due to its broad nature, but it could be a valuable marker for risk stratification. • 8:00

Elevated ferritin levels without other inflammatory processes could be a red flag for poor outcomes. • 8:15

Changes in causes of death trends, such as the rise in hypertensive heart disease, warrant further investigation. • 9:01

Educating healthcare providers on the potential significance of ferritin levels is crucial for informed discussions and risk assessment. • 9:59

Ferritin testing may serve as a simple baseline for assessing risk of poor outcomes in individuals during the pandemic. • 10:15