Role of hematological parameters in the stratification of COVID-19 disease severity

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 virus involves respiratory as well as other body systems including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, immunological and hematopoietic system. Patient of covid-19 pneumonia presents with wide range of hemostatic abnormalities. These hemostatic abnormalities in COVID-19 are related with disease progression, severity and mortality. The Objective of our study is to evaluate the role of hematological parameters in determination of COVID-19 disease severity. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This was a retrospective study, conducted in Department of Pathology and Department of medicine, FMH college of Medicine and Dentistry from May 2020 to July 2020. Total of 101, confirmed cases of covid-19 disease, both genders between 17 and 75-year age were included. Hematological parameters were compared in mild, moderate, severe and critical disease group. Continuous variables were analyzed by using non parametric, Kruskal Wallis test while categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square test. RESULTS: Out of 101 patients, 20.8%, 51.8%,19.8% and 7.9% were in mild, moderate, severe and critical group respectively. Median (IQR) values of WBCs (p-value 0.004), ANC (p-value 0.002), NLR (p-value 0.001), D-dimer level (p-value 0.001), ferritin (0.0001), LDH (0.0001) were significantly increased in patients with critical disease. Median (IQR) values of APTT (p-value 0.003) and CRP (p- value 0.0001) were suggestively higher in patients with severe disease. Other parameters like Hemoglobin, MCV, HCT, ALC, Platelet count, prothrombin time did not show statistically significant association with severity of disease. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, elevated Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, APTT, D-dimer, LDH and serum ferritin and CRP are associated with severity of covid-19 disease.