Ferrando ES, Hanslin K, Hultström M, et al. - Findings demonstrate a key role of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 (sTNFR) during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Post-adjustment for age and respiratory failure, 30-day mortality was independently predicted by sTNFR 1.

• This study included critically ill patients with COVID-19.

• Higher plasma levels of sTNFR 1 and 2 were found in COVID-19 patients than in controls.

• sTNFR 1 and 2 plasma levels were strongly related to other inflammatory biomarkers, severity of illness and acute kidney injury development during ICU stay.

• Optimal cut-offs for sTNFR 1 and 2 to differentiate survivors and non-survivors 30 days after ICU admission were: values > 2.29 ng/mL and > 11.7 ng/mL, respectively, with an area under the curve in receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.75 and 0.67 respectively.