Haematological parameters in COVID-19 disease

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization. Various haematological parameters alteration has been documented in SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is a need for research to evaluate the pattern of the haematological parameters of COVID-19 patients. Aims: The main aim of this study was to determine demographic characteristics, to study various haematological parameters and their relation with the outcome of the disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were included in the study. A prospective study was done in the Department of Pathology, GCS Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, for the period of 15 days (01 August 2020–15 August 2020). Patients were categorised according to severity, oxygen (O2) requirement and their the outcome. Haematological parameters and clinical data were obtained. Median values of age and haematological parameters were compared between these groups. Results: Patients who needed oxygen support had higher median age, absolute neutrophil count and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) had higher age, leucocytosis with absolute lymphopoenia and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. The parameters found to be associated with a poor outcome were higher median age with low haemoglobin, low mean corpuscular volume and absolute lymphopoenia. Conclusions: Males and older people are more prone to COVID-19 infection. Parameters such as high total leucocyte count, high absolute neutrophil count, low absolute lymphocyte count and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be considered cardinal laboratory findings with prognostic potential for the requirement of O2, ICU admission and poor outcome of COVID-19 disease.