Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), induces a spectrum of clinical conditions ranging from asymptomatic infection to life threatening severe disease, characterized by respiratory failure, shock and multi-organ dysfunction requiring admission in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The aim of the present study is to analyze miRNAs associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease severity and mortality.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years
• diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by molecular testing on nasopharyngeal swabs

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women

Patients admitted at the Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS hospital with Covid-19 were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were collected at the time of hospital admission. Plasma were separated from whole blood by centrifugation for 15 min at 3.000 rpm at 4°C and stored at -80°C until processing