Hematology profile analysis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients

Objectives: Some hematological parameters were reported as markers to assess severity of COVID-19 patients. Comorbidities were risk factors for severe COVID-19. Differences in hematology profile based on severity and comorbidity, and correlation between hematology profile and Ct value were never studied at Makassar, Indonesia. The aim of this study were to know the differences of hematology profile based on severity and comorbidity, and the correlation between hematology profile and Ct value in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This study was retrospective, cross-sectional of confirmed COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital, Makassar, since June to August 2020. Hematology profile, Ct value, comorbidity, and severity of COVID-19 patients were obtained from Hospital Information System Data.

Results: From 217 patients, subjects were 102 (47%) male dan 115 (53%) female, 127 mild-moderate patients (58.5%) and 90 severe patients (41.5%), 143 patients (65%) without comorbidity, 74 patients (35%) with comorbidity. White blood cells (WBC), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil and monocyte count, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were significantly higher in severe patients than mild-moderate patients (p<0.05), besides RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocyte and thrombocyte count were significantly lower in severe patients than mild-moderate patients (p<0.05). Hematology profile was not different significantly based on comorbidity and was not correlated significantly with Ct value, except eosinophil count (r=0.161; p=0.018).

Conclusions: We suggest that hematology profile could predict the severity of COVID-19 patients. Moreover, eosinophil count could be considered to predict the infectivity of patient with COVID-19.