Link of Video https://youtu.be/cQUhwa50jAM Background: Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients, which are essential factors in guiding patient management, are poorly understood. In Indonesia, several inflammatory markers have been utilized to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the role of C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and XCL1/lymphotactin levels in predicting 28-day mortality in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with COVID-19 patients admitted to the emergency department at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and Medistra Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, from June 2020 to February 2021. The predictors of 28-day mortality in COVID-19 patients in this study included CRP, D-dimer, IL-6, and XCL1 levels at admission. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of 28-day mortality in the study population. Results: A total of 120 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in the study; 21 (17.5%) died within 28 days after admission. According to our multivariate analysis, a CRP level (HR, 8.55; 95% CI, 3.310-22.088) ≥ 110 mg/L and a D-dimer level (HR, 20.642; 95% CI, 6.909-61.667) ≥ 4640 ng/mL were identified as independent predictors of 28-day mortality in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: A C-reactive protein level ≥ 110 mg/L and a D-dimer level ≥ 4640 ng/mL can be used to predict 28-day mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Numerous studies have proved the efficacy of vaccination in reducing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) burden. However, even though the COVID-19 vaccination coverage is high for primary doses, a booster dose is needed to sustain protection. Continuing our previous research, this study evaluates the immunogenicity and safety of full and half doses of two COVID-19 booster vaccines, ChAdOx1-S (AstraZeneca) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), in individuals primed with ChAdOx1-S. Methods: This study was an observer-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of half and full doses of two COVID-19 booster vaccine types, BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1-S, among fully vaccinated, ChAdOx1-S-primed individuals in Jakarta, Indonesia. A total of 329 participants were randomized to receive either full or half doses of the booster vaccines, namely the ChAdOx1-S and BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines. Immunogenicity was assessed through SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) at 28 days post-booster, while safety was monitored via adverse event reporting. Results: The results showed that both vaccines demonstrated increased geometric mean titers (GMTs) post-booster. In the ChAdOx1-S booster group, at the baseline visit (day 0) and third visit (day 28), no statistically significant differences in GMT between the half- and full-dose groups were observed (p = 0.970 and 0.539, respectively). In the BNT162b2 group, no statistically significant difference was noted at the baseline visit, while the full dose was higher than the half dose at 28 days (Day 28, p = 0.011). Surrogate virus neutralization tests (sVNTs) and NAbs assays also revealed no significant differences between the half and full dose groups for both the Wuhan strain and the Delta variant. The BNT162b2 group compared to the ChAdOx1-S group revealed a statistically significant increase in IgG levels compared to ChAdOx1-S, with p-values of <0.001 and <0.001 for the half dose and full dose, respectively. This was also reflected in the NAbs test results, where BNT162b2 showed significantly higher levels against both the Wuhan strain and Delta variant. Adverse events were predominantly mild: 79.6% (n = 86/108) in the ChAdOx1-S full-dose group, 75.4% (n = 43/57) in the ChAdOx1-S half-dose group, 84.2% (n = 101/120) in the BNT162b2 full-dose group, and 92.6% (n = 88/95) in the BNT162b2 half-dose group, with pain at the injection site being the most common local reaction and myalgia and headache the most frequent systemic reactions. One serious adverse event was reported, assessed as unrelated to the vaccine. Conclusions: This study confirms that half doses of ChAdOx1-S and BNT162b2 are as immunogenic and safe as full doses, and a heterologous booster is more immunogenic than a homologous booster.