14 February 2026 : Clinical Research
Analysis of the Epidemiological Characteristics and Risk Factors for Severe Progression of Scrub Typhus in the Dali Region of China
Lihua Huang ABCE 1, Mingjing Cheng BC 2, Wei Gu EF 1*, Fuxing Li BCEF 3DOI: 10.12659/MSM.951111
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e951111
Table 3 Comparison of laboratory indicators of patients with mild vs severe scrub typhus (ST).
| Variables | Mild ST group (n=370) | Severe ST group (n=89) | Statistic | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 86.91 (36.90, 120.91) | 113.86 (77.27, 142.00) | Z=−4.17 | <0.001 |
| Prothrombin time (s) | 12.70 (11.60, 13.60) | 12.90 (11.50, 14.00) | Z=−1.32 | 0.188 |
| Activated partial Thromboplastin time (s) | 34.00 (29.92, 38.80) | 36.90 (30.80, 41.50) | Z=−2.42 | 0.016 |
| Thrombin time (s) | 17.90 (17.00, 19.00) | 18.20 (17.10, 20.40) | Z=−2.98 | 0.003 |
| Fibrinogen (g/L) | 3.25 (2.74, 4.14) | 2.52 (1.66, 3.56) | Z=−4.93 | <0.001 |
| Total bilirubin (μmol/L) | 9.70 (7.30, 12.60) | 13.20 (8.70, 22.10) | Z=−4.34 | <0.001 |
| Direct bilirubin (μmol/L) | 4.20 (3.00, 5.90) | 6.30 (4.00, 12.60) | Z=−5.56 | <0.001 |
| Indirect bilirubin (μmol/L) | 5.20 (3.90, 7.18) | 5.40 (4.00, 8.60) | Z=−1.15 | 0.249 |
| Alanine aminotransferase (U/L) | 60.00 (38.00, 103.00) | 94.00 (55.00, 141.00) | Z=−4.76 | <0.001 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L) | 67.00 (41.25, 109.00) | 123.00 (73.00, 187.00) | Z=−6.33 | < 0.001 |
| Alkaline phosphatase (U/L) | 85.00 (65.00, 116.00) | 87.00 (70.00, 119.00) | Z=−0.43 | 0.665 |
| γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (U/L) | 56.50 (32.00, 125.00) | 56.00 (31.00, 129.00) | Z=−0.29 | 0.769 |
| Albumin (g/L) | 33.40 (28.80, 36.60) | 29.40 (27.60, 34.50) | Z=−3.57 | <0.001 |
| Blood urea nitrogen (mmol/L) | 4.74 (3.74, 6.30) | 6.16 (4.25, 15.12) | Z=−4.55 | <0.001 |
| Creatinine (μmol/L) | 66.00 (57.00, 78.75) | 77.00 (62.00, 121.00) | Z=−4.42 | <0.001 |
| Uric acid (μmol/L) | 228.00 (179.00, 275.00) | 269.00 (188.00, 367.00) | Z=−3.26 | 0.001 |
| Blood potassium (mmol/L) | 3.56 (3.27, 3.91) | 3.59 (3.27, 3.87) | Z=−0.23 | 0.818 |
| Blood sodium (mmol/L) | 139.00 (136.00, 141.00) | 137.00 (133.00, 140.00) | Z=−3.27 | 0.001 |
| Blood calcium (mmol/L) | 2.04 (1.94, 2.14) | 1.97 (1.87, 2.08) | Z=−3.12 | 0.002 |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L) | 3.35 (2.73, 4.07) | 3.06 (2.44, 3.59) | Z=−2.87 | 0.004 |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) | 2.04 (1.54, 2.59) | 2.21 (1.72, 3.24) | Z=−2.27 | 0.023 |
| White blood cell (×10/L) | 7.11 (5.20, 9.42) | 7.51 (5.55, 10.43) | Z=−0.95 | 0.340 |
| Absolute neutrophil count (×10/L) | 4.40 (2.92, 6.20) | 5.23 (3.66, 6.89) | Z=−2.71 | 0.007 |
| Absolute lymphocyte count (×10/L) | 1.66 (1.01, 2.73) | 1.54 (0.85, 3.29) | Z=−0.32 | 0.747 |
| Absolute monocyte count (×10/L) | 0.43 (0.28, 0.64) | 0.41 (0.25, 0.58) | Z=−1.40 | 0.162 |
| Absolute eosinophil count (×10/L) | 0.01 (0.00, 0.03) | 0.00 (0.00, 0.01) | Z=−3.26 | 0.001 |
| Absolute basophil count (×10/L) | 0.02 (0.01, 0.04) | 0.02 (0.01, 0.04) | Z=−0.27 | 0.786 |
| Red blood cell (×10/L) | 4.25 (3.93, 4.61) | 4.22 (3.79, 4.58) | Z=−1.18 | 0.238 |
| Hemoglobin (g/L) | 126.50 (116.00, 140.75) | 126.00 (115.00, 139.00) | Z=−0.24 | 0.809 |
| Platelet (×10/L) | 112.00 (81.00, 158.00) | 61.00 (35.00, 98.00) | Z=−7.71 | <0.001 |
| Atypital lymphocyte, n (%) | χ=0.54 | 0.462 | ||
| No | 280 (75.68) | 64 (71.91) | ||
| Yes | 90 (24.32) | 25 (28.09) | ||
| Creatine kinase (U/L) | 59.00 (37.00, 94.25) | 85.00 (45.50, 129.00) | Z=−2.50 | 0.012 |
| Creatine kinase-MB (U/L) | 12.00 (7.25, 16.00) | 13.00 (8.00, 16.50) | Z=−1.22 | 0.223 |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (U/L) | 389.50 (292.75, 492.50) | 540.50 (410.00, 628.50) | Z=−4.88 | <0.001 |
| Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (U/L) | 288.50 (223.50, 362.75) | 395.00 (305.75, 463.75) | Z=−4.77 | <0.001 |
| Hematuria, n (%) | χ=5.84 | 0.016 | ||
| No | 212 (57.45) | 38 (43.18) | ||
| Yes | 157 (42.55) | 50 (56.82) | ||
| Urine protein, n (%) | χ=5.73 | 0.017 | ||
| No | 206 (55.68) | 37 (41.57) | ||
| Yes | 164 (44.32) | 52 (58.43) | ||
| Atrial fibrillation, n (%) | χ=0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| No | 360 (97.30) | 87 (97.75) | ||
| Yes | 10 (2.70) | 2 (2.25) | ||
| Nodal tachycardia, n (%) | χ=0.79 | 0.375 | ||
| No | 343 (92.70) | 80 (89.89) | ||
| Yes | 27 (7.30) | 9 (10.11) | ||
| Sinus bradycardia, n (%) | χ=0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| No | 355 (95.95) | 85 (95.51) | ||
| Yes | 15 (4.05) | 4 (4.49) | ||
| Ventricular premature beat, n (%) | χ=0.00 | 0.963 | ||
| No | 363 (98.11) | 88 (98.88) | ||
| Yes | 7 (1.89) | 1 (1.12) | ||
| Atrial premature beats, n (%) | χ=3.66 | 0.056 | ||
| No | 362 (97.84) | 83 (93.26) | ||
| Yes | 8 (2.16) | 6 (6.74) | ||
| Right bundle branch block, n (%) | χ=0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| No | 363 (98.11) | 87 (97.75) | ||
| Yes | 7 (1.89) | 2 (2.25) | ||
| Abnormal Q wave, n (%) | – | 0.171 | ||
| No | 368 (99.46) | 87 (97.75) | ||
| Yes | 2 (0.54) | 2 (2.25) | ||
| Pulmonary infection, n (%) | χ=1.95 | 0.163 | ||
| No | 261 (70.54) | 56 (62.92) | ||
| Yes | 109 (29.46) | 33 (37.08) | ||
| Chronic infection, n (%) | χ=0.20 | 0.654 | ||
| No | 352 (95.14) | 83 (93.26) | ||
| Yes | 18 (4.86) | 6 (6.74) | ||
| Pleural effusion, n (%) | χ=0.21 | 0.645 | ||
| No | 291 (78.65) | 68 (76.40) | ||
| Yes | 79 (21.35) | 21 (23.60) | ||
| Interstitial changes, n (%) | χ=0.00 | 0.983 | ||
| No | 352 (95.14) | 84 (94.38) | ||
| Yes | 18 (4.86) | 5 (5.62) | ||
| Splenomegaly, n (%) | χ=0.17 | 0.682 | ||
| No | 278 (75.14) | 65 (73.03) | ||
| Yes | 92 (24.86) | 24 (26.97) | ||
| Lymphadenectasis, n (%) | χ=0.32 | 0.572 | ||
| No | 347 (93.78) | 82 (92.13) | ||
| Yes | 23 (6.22) | 7 (7.87) | ||
| Combined liver injury, n (%) | χ=29.48 | <0.001 | ||
| No | 245 (66.22) | 31 (34.83) | ||
| Yes | 125 (33.78) | 58 (65.17) |