CXCL8 and COVID-19: This study revealed significantly elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in critical patients, which were correlated with in-hospital deaths among individuals with critical COVID-19.[29] While IL-8 and TNF-α showed robust associations with ICU admission, non-significant trends for chronic disease may reflect limited power, diagnostic heterogeneity, and partial mediation through inflammatory activity.