Anaemia is associated with severe illness in COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study

Link to article at PubMed

J Med Virol. 2020 Aug 19. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26444. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Anaemia commonly aggravates the severity of respiratory diseases, whereas thus far, few study has elucidated the impact of anaemia on Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with anaemia, and to further explore the relationship between anaemia and the severity of COVID-19.

METHODS: In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, a total of 222 confirmed patients admitted to Wuhan Ninth Hospital from December 1, 2019 to March 20, 2020 were recruited, including 79 patients with anaemia and 143 patients without anaemia. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, disease progression and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Risk factors associated with the severe illness in COVID-19 were established by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULT: In our cohort, compared to patients without anaemia, patients with anaemia were more likely to have one or more comorbidities and severe COVID-19 illness. More patients demonstrated elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and creatinine in anaemia group. Levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), D-dimer, myoglobin, T-pro brain natriuretic peptide (T-pro-BNP) and urea nitrogen (BUN) in patients with anaemia were significantly higher than those without. In addition, the proportion of patients with dyspnoea, elevated CRP and PCT was positively associated with the severity of anaemia. The Odd Ratio (OR) of anaemia related to the severe condition of COVID-19 was 3.47(95% CI: 1.02-11.75, P=0.046) and 3.77 (95% CI:1.33-10.71, P=0.013) after adjustment for baseline date and laboratory indices, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Anaemia is an independent risk factor associated with the severe illness of COVID-19, and healthcare professionals should be more sensitive to the haemoglobin levels of COVID-19 patients on admission. Awareness of anemia as a risk factor for COVID-19 was of great significance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethics committee of Wuhan University People's Hospital (wdry2020-k064) This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:32813298 | DOI:10.1002/jmv.26444

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