Baseline complete blood count and cell population data as prognostic markers for in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients admitted at the Philippine General Hospital from March 2020 to January 2022.
doi.org/10.21141/PJP.2023.04
- Author:
Bien Angelo Kuizon
1
;
Karen Damian
2
;
Emilio Villanueva III
2
Author Information
1. University of the Philippines Manila Philippine General Hospital
2. Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cell population data
- MeSH:
COVID-19;
hematology;
blood cell count;
complete blood count;
prognosis
- From:
Philippine Journal of Pathology
2023;8(1):13-20
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:Complete blood count (CBC) and cell population data (CPD) are hematologic parameters
used in several clinical scenarios including infection and neoplastic processes. In the setting of COVID-19
infection, there is relative paucity of data in their use as possible prognostic markers.
OBJECTIVE:We aim to evaluate the utility of the baseline CBC and CPD as prognostic markers for in-hospital
mortality among COVID-19 patients admitted in Philippine General Hospital from March 2020 to January
2022.
METHODOLOGY:This is a case-control study. Expired patients served as cases, and recovered patients served
as controls. Data from eligible patients including age, sex, admitting COVID diagnosis with severity, final
disposition, baseline CBC and CPD results were collected from the hospital medical records and hematology
section of the Department of Laboratories. Statistical analyses were done to determine the prognostic value
of these parameters for in-hospital mortality.
RESULTS:Among the different CBC and CPD parameters, the study shows total white blood cell (WBC) count,
absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute eosinophil count (AEC), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)
were statistically significant predictors for in-hospital mortality. For total WBC count, at a cut off 9.9 x 10 9
/L, the
sensitivity and specificity is 70.9% and 66.2%, respectively. For ANC, at a cut off of 7.3 x 10 9
/L, the specificity
is 76.4% and the specificity is 68.2%. At a cut off of 7.62, the NLR shows a sensitivity of 76.4% and specificity of
70.1%. For AEC, at a cut off of 0.006 x 10 9
/L, the sensitivity is 53.3% and the specificity is 87.3%. AEC predicts
towards the direction of survival rather than to the direction of in-hospital mortality.
CONCLUSION:The total WBC count, ANC, and NLR were statistically significant predictors for in-hospital
mortality, while AEC predicts towards the direction of survival. The sensitivities and specificities of the cut off
for these parameters were less than ideal. Correlation with clinical and other laboratory parameters is still
recommended. For future studies, the authors recommend monitoring CBC and CPD parameters at different
time points during the patients’ hospital course.
- Full text:8(1)_3.pdf
