Haematological Traits in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Positive Patients for Predicting Severity and Hospitalization

Abstract

Abdullah M Alkahtani,1 Yasser Alraey,2 Gaffar Sarwar Zaman,2 Hajri Al‐Shehri,3 Ibrahim Saeed Alghamdi,3 Harish C Chandramoorthy,1,4 Ahmed M Al-Hakami,1,4 Ahmad M Alamri,2,5 Hassan Ali Alshehri3 1Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 3Central Laboratory, Assir Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Center for Stem Cell Research, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 5Cancer Research Unit, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Abdullah M Alkahtani, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, PO Box 641, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: The present investigation aims on the clinical attributes and haematological parameters between symptomatic (COVID– 19 ICU) and asymptomatic (COVID– 19 homes isolation) patients as predisposing sign for COVID-19 related mortality.Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort research was conducted of admitted patients to ICU, who were suffering from severe COVID-19 in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from July 2020 until September 2020. The study included individuals with COVID − 19 and ICU admission as symptomatic group and others who are COVID– 19 positives with quarantine as asymptomatic group. Epidemiological, clinical and haematological laboratory data were retrospectively collected, analysed with control subjects.Results: Of the 38 ICU patients studied, the most common symptoms were fever and respiratory distress (100%), cough (86.8%). Majority were of Saudi origin (78.9%). Eighteen (47.4%) COVID-19 ICU patients showed leukocytosis, 6 (15.8%) had severe thrombocytopenia (with most having thrombocytopenia), 18 (47.4%) were anaemic. A significant correlation was observed between the WBC, RBC, Hb, platelets, neutrophil and lymphocyte count between ICU inmates compared with quarantine (p < 0.001) and RBC, Hb, neutrophil and lymphocyte count with control groups (p < 0.001).Conclusion: From the observations it is evident that, the blood tests have potential clinical value in predicting COVID-19 progression. Further, patient characteristics including age, leukocyte count, RBC, platelets and differential leukocyte counts may be significant predictors for monitoring the progression of the critical illness observed in SARS-COV-2 patients. Also, treatment procedures can be re-defined further to reduce COVID– 19 mortalities in more critically ill COVID-19 individuals.Keywords: COVID-19, blood test, ICU, quarantine, leukocyte count, erythrocyte count, platelet count

Keywords

• covid-19
• blood test
• icu
• quarantine
• leukocyte count
• erythrocyte count
• platelet count.