Hematologic Involvement as a Predictor of Mortality in COVID-19 Patients in a Safety Net Hospital

Abstract

Introduction. COVID-19 affects the hematologic system. We evaluate the impact of hematologic involvement of different blood cell line parameters of white blood cells including absolute neutrophil count (ANC), hemoglobin, and platelets in COVID-19 patients and their association with hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS). 

Methods. This is a retrospective study of 475 patients with confirmed positive COVID-19 infection and hematologic abnormalities in the metropolitan New York City area.

Results. Increased (ANC) (OR:1.20; 95% CI:1.02-1.42, p<0.05) increased days to hematologic involvement (OR:4.44, 95% CI:1.42-13.90; p<0.05), and persistence of hematologic involvement at discharge (OR:2.87, 95% CI:1.20, 6.90, p<0.05) were associated with higher mortality. Higher hemoglobin at admission (OR:0.77, 95% CI:0.60-0.98, p<0.001) and platelets peak (OR:0.995, 95% CI 95%:0.992-0.997, p<0.001) were associated with decreased mortality. Patients with higher white blood cell peak (B=0.46, SE=0.07, p<0.001) and higher hemoglobin at admission (B=0.05, SE=0.01, p<0.001) were associated with higher LOS. Those with higher hemoglobin nadir (B=-0.06, SE=0.01, p<0.001), higher platelets nadir (B=-0.001, SE=<0.001, p<0.001), and hematologic involvement at discharge/death (B=-0.06, SE=0.03, p<0.05) were associated with lower LOS.

Conclusions. These findings can be used by clinicians to better risk-stratify patients with hematologic involvement in COVID-19 and tailor therapies to potentially improve patient outcomes.