Renal dysfunction (elevated levels of serum urea and creatinine) and elevated serum IL-6 levels but lower serum albumin levels were found to be the best prognostic markers of in-hospital mortality of severely ill COVID-19 patients in our study population. We propose that the vigilant monitoring of these biochemical parameters can aid in the prognostication of COVID-19 and thus improve the clinical management of these high-risk patients. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is COVID-19.