Blood Cell Indices and Morphological Abnormalities Detected Among COVID-19 Patients Receiving Care

Kofi Mensah; Victor O. Ofori; Charles Nkansah; Samuel K. Appiah; David S. Sackey; Vincent Kawuribi; Simon B. Bani; Hisham A. Osumanu; Selina Mintaah; Helen Owusu-Asante; Gabriel Abbam; Nicholas Klevor; Felix O-Boakye; Samira Daud; Charles A. Derigubah

doi:10.28991/SciMedJ-2023-05-01-02

SciMedicine Journal (Mar 2023)

Blood Cell Indices and Morphological Abnormalities Detected Among COVID-19 Patients Receiving Care

Kofi Mensah,
Victor O. Ofori,
Charles Nkansah,
Samuel K. Appiah,
David S. Sackey,
Vincent Kawuribi,
Simon B. Bani,
Hisham A. Osumanu,
Selina Mintaah,
Helen Owusu-Asante,
Gabriel Abbam,
Nicholas Klevor,
Felix O-Boakye,
Samira Daud,
Charles A. Derigubah

Affiliations

Kofi Mensah: 1) Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,
Victor O. Ofori: Department of Haematology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,
Charles Nkansah: 1) Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,
Samuel K. Appiah: 1) Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,
David S. Sackey: Department of Haematology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,
Vincent Kawuribi: Biomedical Laboratory Science Department, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,
Simon B. Bani: Biomedical Laboratory Science Department, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,
Hisham A. Osumanu: Biomedical Laboratory Science Department, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,
Selina Mintaah: Department of Haematology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,
Helen Owusu-Asante: Department of Laboratory Technology, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi,
Gabriel Abbam: Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,
Nicholas Klevor: Department of Haematology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,
Felix O-Boakye: 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. 6) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani,
Samira Daud: Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,
Charles A. Derigubah: 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. 7) Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Bolgatanga Technical University, Bolgatanga,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.28991/SciMedJ-2023-05-01-02
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 1
pp. 8 – 18

Abstract

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Blood cell abnormalities may occur among COVID-19 patients and could be detrimental during the disease’s progression. This study assessed complete blood count (CBC) parameters and determined abnormal changes in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients receiving care at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana. This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at KATH, Kumasi, Ghana, recruited seventy-three (73) RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 participants. Venous blood was taken from participants into EDTA tubes and used for CBC analyses and the preparation of a thin blood film for blood cell morphological examination. Data obtained were analyzed with SPSS version 22.0, and p70 years old) had relatively lower Hb compared to other age groups in the study. Erythrocytopaenia (18/73), leucocytosis (28/73), lymphopaenia (9/73), and thrombocytopaenia (21/73) were common among the COVID-19 participants. Red cell morphological abnormalities were seen in the study participants: echinocytes (11/73), elliptocytes (6/73), stomatocytes (1/73), acanthocytes (4/73), pencil-shaped cells (5/73), schistocytes (15/73), ovalocytes (2/73) and target cells (1/73). Moreover, the acanthocytes were significantly higher in males compared to females (4 vs. 0, p=0.019). Again, reactive lymphocytes (8/73), neutrophil toxic granulation (18/73), neutrophil cytoplasmic vacuolation (42/73), smear cells (8/73), and one each of atypical lymphocyte and Dohle body were present among the COVID-19 participants. The COVID-19 CT value was lower among male participants. The overall prevalence of anaemia among COVID-19 participants was high, with males and the aged (>70 years) predominantly affected. COVID-19 patients have abnormal blood cell counts and significant morphological abnormalities in peripheral blood. Early detection of haematological abnormalities would be beneficial in the management of COVID-19 patients. Further study to assess the haematopoietic activities of COVID-19 patients is recommended. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2023-05-01-02 Full Text: PDF

Published in SciMedicine Journal

ISSN: 2704-9833 (Online)
Publisher: Ital Publication
Country of publisher: Italy
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens; Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://scimedjournal.org

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