D-dimer is associated with the risk of mortality in Coronavirus Disease 2019 patients

L Shi1, Y Wang, Y-D Wang

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. yhy@zzu.edu.cn.

Insights

Elevated D-dimer levels in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients indicate a higher risk of mortality. This meta-analysis confirms a significant association between higher D-dimer levels and increased mortality risk in COVID-19 survivors.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Hematology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health crisis.
  • Understanding prognostic markers for COVID-19 mortality is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between D-dimer levels and mortality risk in COVID-19 patients.
  • To synthesize existing evidence through a meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Meta-analysis of relevant studies.
  • Comparison of D-dimer levels between survival and non-survival COVID-19 patient groups.

Main Results:

  • D-dimer levels were significantly higher in non-survival COVID-19 patients compared to survival patients.
  • A standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.91 (95% CI = 0.79 to 1.03) indicated a substantial difference.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated D-dimer levels are associated with an increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients.
  • D-dimer serves as a potential prognostic biomarker for COVID-19 outcomes.

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