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Dynamic changes of hematological and hemostatic parameters in COVID-19 hospitalized patients: Potential role as
Pablo Letelier1, Hugo Delgado2, Felipe Garrido2
1Universidad Católica de Temuco, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Departamento de Procesos Diagnósticos y Evaluación, Precision Health Research Laboratory, Temuco, Chile.
Insights
This study identified key laboratory biomarkers for severe COVID-19 in South America. Elevated white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and D-dimer levels indicate a higher risk of severe disease.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Hemostasis
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- COVID-19 remains a global health concern.
- Limited South American data exists on laboratory biomarkers for severe COVID-19.
- This study addresses this gap by investigating hematological and hemostatic changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify laboratory biomarkers associated with severe COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.
- To establish cut-off values for these biomarkers in severe cases.
- To determine the odds ratio for severe disease based on these markers.
Main Methods:
- 170 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were analyzed.
- Severity was determined using established criteria.
- Laboratory data (WBC, NLR, PLR, D-dimer) were collected on days 1, 3, 7, and 15.
- Statistical analysis, including ROC curves, was performed.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in leukocytes (WBC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and D-dimer were observed between moderate and severe COVID-19 cases on day 1.
- Cut-off values were established for these biomarkers.
- WBC (OR=3.24), NLR (OR=5.71), PLR (OR=4.41), Neutrophil (OR=4.12), and D-dimer (OR=2.78) were significantly associated with severe disease risk.
Conclusions:
- Basic laboratory biomarkers can be identified for severe COVID-19.
- These biomarkers, including WBC, NLR, PLR, and D-dimer, show prognostic value.
- The findings aid in assessing COVID-19 severity risk in South American populations.
Background:
COVID-19 is still a global health issue, there is limited evidence in South America regarding laboratory biomarkers associated with severe disease. The objective of our study was to identify hematological and hemostatic changes associated with severe COVID-19.
Methods:
A total of 170 hospitalized patients with COVID19 were included in the study, defining their severity according to established criteria. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory (days 1, 3, 7, 15) data were obtained. We performed a statistical analysis, assuming significance with a value of p < 0.05. We analyzed the correlation between severity and biomarkers and established cut-off values for severe patients through ROC curves, estimating Odds Ratio associated with severe disease.
Results:
Day 1 was observed significant differences between moderate vs severe patients for leukocytes (WBC), Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and D-dimer, establishing cut-off points for each of them. The markers we found associated to risk of severe disease were WBC (OR=3.2396; p = 0.0003), NLR (OR=5.7084; p < 0.0001), PLR (OR=4.4094; p < 0.0001), Neutrophil (OR=4.1193; p < 0.0001), D-dimer (OR=2.7827; p = 0.0124).
Conclusions:
The results allow to establish basic laboratory biomarkers associated to severe disease, which could be used as prognostic markers.
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