Prognostic Significance of Hematological Parameters in Hospitalized Elderly with COVID-19

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Clinical Pathology department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Aim: COVID-19 is a global pandemic; it caused more than 256 million cases, and early detection of patients at high risk of mortality is of great importance in saving the lives of COVID-19 patients. “In our study” we aimed to utilize the haematological parameters in predicting prognosis and mortality among elderly patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection admitted at Geriatric isolation hospital, Ain Shams University during the period from 26/12/2020 to 20/6/2021.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study involving elderly patients admitted at the Geriatric isolation hospital, Ain Shams University during the period from 26/12/2020 to 20/6/2021.Retrospective evaluation of medical records was used to collect data. The study included patients older than 60 years with proof of SAR-CoV2 by nasopharyngeal swab. Serial complete blood count parameters were reported during admission: haemoglobin (Hb), Total leukocytic count (TLC), Neutrophils (N), lymphocytes (L), platelets (PLT), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW), Neutrophil/lymphocyte(NLR), platelet/lymphocyte(PLR) ratios were calculated, other haematological parameters as C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin were reported.
Results: Among 50 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a mean age of 68.5 years, 54% were males. Mortality of those patients has a statistically significant association with the presence of high NLR, CRP, Ferritin and lymphopenia on admission and the likelihood of patients’ mortality will rise with the presence of NLR>12.4, CRP>120mg/L, FERRITIN>493.6mcg/L and Lymphocytes≤0.88 *109/ L on admission, however, presence of CRP>120mg/L is an independent factor for mortality in hospitalized elderly with COVID 19.
Conclusion: Hematological parameters such as (NLR, CRP, Ferritin and lymphopenia) are predictor markers for mortality in hospitalized elderly with COVID-19.

Keywords