Analysis of laboratory blood parameter results for patients diagnosed with COVID‐19, from all ethnic group populations: A single centre study
Abstract
Introduction Although factors such as age, sex, diabetes, obesity and changes in certain laboratory investigations are important prognostic factors in COVID‐19 infection, these may not apply to all ethnic/racial groups. We hypothesized differences in routine biochemistry and haematology indices in Caucasian and a combined group of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) patients who tested positive for COVID‐19 who died, compared to survivors. Methods We tested our hypothesis in 445 patients (229 Caucasian, 216 BAME) admitted to secondary care with proven COVID‐19 infection, in whom standard routine laboratory indices were collected on admission. Results After 28 weeks, 190 (42.7%) had died within 28 days of COVID diagnosis (97 Caucasians [42.4%], 93 BAMEs [43.1%], P = .923). A general linear model analysis found the ethnicity interaction with mortality to be significant for fibrinogen, ferritin and HbA1c (after controlling for age). In a multivariate analysis, a neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio > 7.4 and a urea/albumin ratio > 0.28 increased the odds of death for both the Caucasian and the BAME group. Additional factors increasing the odds ratio in the BAME group included age >60 years and being diabetic. Conclusion Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and urea/albumin ratio are simple metrics that predict death to aid clinicians in determining the prognosis of COVID‐19 and help provide early intensive intervention to reduce mortality. In the BAME groups, intensive monitoring even at younger age and those with diabetes may also help reduce COVID‐19 associated mortality.Citation
Marwah, M., Marwah, S., Blann, A., Morrissey, H., Ball, P. and Wandroo, F.A. (2021) Analysis of laboratory blood parameter results for patients diagnosed with COVID‐19, from all ethnic group populations: A single centre study. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, 43(5), pp.1243–1251. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijlh.13538Publisher
WileyJournal
International Journal of Laboratory HematologyAdditional Links
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijlh.13538Type
Journal articleLanguage
enDescription
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Wiley. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijlh.13538ISSN
1751-5521EISSN
1751-553Xae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/ijlh.13538
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/