Correlation between hematological and biochemical markers in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the correlation between hematological and biochemical markers in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study design was followed from April 2020 to December 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Various hematological and biochemical markers were evaluated. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) tests were performed. Results: One hundred and eight patients were categorized as died ( n = 63) or discharged ( n = 45). Dead patients had lower hemoglobin (Hb) levels (11.71 ± 2.69 vs. 12.88 ± 2.45, P = 0.02), lymphocyte absolute count (1.11±0.38 vs 1.48 ± 0.748, P = 0.001), and platelets (195.35 ± 80.86 vs. 232.18 ± 89.01, P = 0.02) and higher white blood cell (WBC) levels (10.26 ± 5.89 vs. 7.82 ± 2.96, P = 0.01) and neutrophil absolute count (9.61 ± 5.61 vs. 6.07 ± 2.91, P < 0.001). Dead patients had significantly prolonged APTT ( P = 0.02) and PT ( P = 0.01) than discharged patients. Dead patients had significantly higher levels of bilirubin, D-dimer, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, and C-reactive protein (CRP), while a nonsignificant difference in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ( P = 0.36), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ( P = 0.46), and ferritin (0.43). A strong positive correlation was observed between AST and ALT ( r = 0.829), as well as between WBC and neutrophil absolute count ( r = 0.725). Moderate positive correlations were observed between ALT and bilirubin ( r = 0.414) and between AST and bilirubin ( r = 0.345). PT moderately correlated with CRP ( r = 0.288), and ferritin with triglycerides ( r = 0.336) and CRP ( r = 0.240). A negative correlation was observed between Hb and PT ( r = −0.301), and Hb with creatinine ( r = −0.230). Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for a multifactorial approach in evaluating COVID-19 patients, suggesting regular hematological and biochemical tests may offer valuable insights into disease prognosis.