D-dimer levels on admission to predict Venous thrombotic events in patients with Covid-19

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Venous thrombotic events (VTE) are frequent in COVID-19, and elevated plasma D-dimer and dyspnea are common in both entities. <b>Aim:</b> Evaluate whether elevated D-dimer levels could predict VTE in patients with Covid-19. <b>Patient:</b> Patients with laboratory confirmed Covid-19 were retrospectively enrolled in the university hospital of Gabes. We defined an elevated D-dimer&nbsp;by a D-dimer higher than 500 µg/L. We have defined two groups&nbsp;: Group 1&nbsp;: G1 = patients with elevated D-dimer (301patients) Group 2&nbsp;: G2 = patients with normal D-dimer (99 patients). <b>Result:</b> Among 400 patients, more than half (75,25%) had an elevated D-dimer on admission. Both groups’ average age was close (65 yo in G1 vs 62 yo in G2). The average D-dimer level was 384 µg/L [112-490 µg/L] in G2 vs 1586 µg/L[525 -10200 µg/L] in G1. The thromboembolic disease was noted in 9% of patients in G1 vs 3% in G2. This difference was not significant (p=0,056). Eighteen patients (18,18%) of G2 were admitted in the intensive care unit vs 98 patients (32,5%) in G1. Twenty four patients had died (24,2%) in G2 vs 142 patients in G1 (47,1%). An elevated d-dimer was associated significantly with admission in reanimation (p=0,006) and mortality (p=5.10-6). <b>Conclusion:</b> D-dimer on admission greater than 500&nbsp;µg/L couldn’t predict VTE but could effectively predict in-hospital mortality in patients with Covid-19, which indicated D-dimer could be an early and helpful marker to improve management of Covid-19 patients.