Nucleated red blood cells are a late biomarker in predicting intensive care unit mortality in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: an observational cohort study.

Background: Nucleated red blood cells (nRBC) are precursor cells of the erythropoiesis that are absent from the peripheral blood under physiological conditions. Their presence is associated with adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of nRBC on mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).