Risk factors associated with hypercoagulability in Covid-19 patients at Ndola Teaching Hospital and Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Zambia

Abstract

Individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have coagulation abnormalities that create a hypercoagulable state, raising questions about appropriate evaluations and interventions to prevent or treat thrombosis. Since some COVID-19 patients appear to be at higher risk of thrombosis and increased mortality than others, such patients need to be given special protection against SARS-COV-2 infection. To identify these vulnerable groups, the risk factors for hypercoagulability must be found. Additionally, the identification of risk factors can contribute to research into the pathophysiological processes of COVID-19 from which possible treatment strategies can be developed. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors associated with hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital (LMUTH). This was a Hospital based research and utilised cross sectional study design. The study reported statistically significant increased proportion of hypercoagulability in unvaccinated, obese, hypertensive, Cardiovascular Disease and diabetic Covid-19 patients aged above 65 years. It was further revealed that male COVID-19 patients, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Asthmatic COVID-19 patients had increased proportion of patients in hypercoagulable state but the differences were not significant.. Further our study reported reduced proportion of hypercoagulability in Blood Group O COVID-19 patients than those with A, B and AB blood Group though these differences were not statistically significant. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that age, obesity, hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, CKD, and CVD were independent risk factors for hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients while gender, Asthma and COPD were not independent risk factors for hypercoagulability in COVID-19 Patients.. Additionally, the study noted that unvaccinated Covid-19 patients were at an increased risk of hypercoagulability compared to vaccinated patients. The study concluded that that age, obesity, hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) are risk factors for hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients were at risk of hypercoagulability than the vaccinated patients. To mitigate the risk of hypercoagulable states, it is recommended to closely monitor COVID-19 patients with the above conditions by implementing preventative measures to help reduce the incidence of hypercoagulability in these patients and to intensify COVID-19 vaccination programmes.