The role of hematological biomarkers, coagulation profile and CRP (c-reactive protein) in COVID-19 patients in private health care sector

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 causing corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most common infection in recent days worldwide. Rapidly evolving from the epidemic outbreak in Wuhan, China on 29 December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 is the third known corona virus that causes fatal respiratory diseases in humans. The roles of biomarkers from a blood sample in the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients who have visited the hospital with history of fever has been evaluated.A retrospective study was carried out in a private sector hospital at Panipat where the patients having history of fever were admitted during 1st May 2020 to 15th August 2020. A total of 100 patients were included who were suspected cases of corona. All the blood parameters, systemic inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) Coagulation factor (prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR) and C-Reactive protein (CRP) are compared between negative and positive COVID-19 cases according to RT-PCR. Result: Out of 100 patients, 65% were RTPCR covid positive. In patient with RTPCR negative test results, it was found that total leukocyte count, neutrophils, platelet, NLR and SII values were higher. However, haemoglobin, lymphocytes and PLR was found to be elevated in patients with positive test results.COVID-19 positive patients presented with leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis. SII and NLR were reduced. PLR and CRP were increased. PT and APTT were within normal limits. Lymphocyte count and PLR showed strong significance in this study.The definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 was made by RT-PCR analysis, but this is a time-consuming and less accessible test. Low values of NLR and SII and high value of PLR and CRP are indicative of COVID-19 and can be used in its diagnosis.