International Journal of Research and Reports in Hematology

Aims: To assess some haematological parameters and indices of hospitalized COVID-19 infected patients treated during the first wave of the pandemic in the Centre for Communicable Disease Control and Research (CCDCR) Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.

Study Design:  Retrospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Communicable Disease Control and Research, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria., between May and September, 2020.

Methodology: Descriptive data was collected from the records of 52 patients who were hospitalized and treated at the CCDCR FMC Asaba, within the months of March to September, 2020 and 40 non Covid-19 subjects as control subjects. The patient samples that were previously collected and analyzed for haematological parameters (lymphocytes, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, monocytes, platelets count, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), using an automated hematology analyzer. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and P values less than .05 were considered statistically significant.

Results:  The outcome of statistical analysis showed that the mean levels of lymphocytes, MCH and MCHC were significantly lower (P<.05) in COVID-19 positive subjects when compared with that of COVID-19 negative control group.  Also, the mean level of total white cell count was significantly higher (P<.05) in COVID-19 positive subjects when compared with that of the control group. There was no significant difference (P<.05) in PCV, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, monocytes, platelet and MCV in the case study when compared with the control group. No correlation was observed between severity and PCV, total WBC, eosinophil, monocyte, platelet count, MCV and MCHC. Whereas, a weak negative correlation (r = -.284, P=.041) was observed between severity and neutrophil. On the other hand, a weak positive correlation between severity and MCH (r=.303, P=.029) as well as between severity and lymphocytes (r=.0305, P=.029) was observed. No significant difference (P>.05) was observed in the outcome of haematological indices of COVID-19 positive subjects who are below fifty (50) years and those more than fifty (50) years of age. Also, no correlation was observed between haematological indices of the case subjects and their age. There is a significant difference in PCV (P<.05) based on gender. However, other haematological indices did not differ based on gender.

Conclusion: Assessing the outcome of haematological indices in COVID 19 positive patients provides insight into the physiological state of these subjects which in turn aids management, treatment monitoring and prognostication. Further observational and experimental studies using larger sample size is hence recommended as this will give a more promising outlook of these indices in COVID 19 subjects.