The importance of anemia in predicting the prognosis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A retrospective and single-center study

INTRODUCTION: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the importance of anemia in predicting prognosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
METHODS: A total of 340 patients, 110 with anemia and 230 without anemia, were included in the study. Biochemical parameters were compared between groups with and without anemia, and between severe and non-severe COVID-19 patient groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of anemia on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
RESULTS: In patients with anemia, age, length of hospital stay, neutrophil count, serum glucose, urea, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, procalcitonin (PCT), high-sensitivity troponin I, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and D-dimer levels were significantly higher. Among the severe and non-severe COVID-19 patient groups, while hemoglobin (hb), hematocrit (ht) and serum calcium levels were significantly lower; PT, serum glucose, urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, CRP, PCT, and D-dimer levels were signif-icantly higher. In evaluating the prognosis of COVID-19 patients; anemia Odds Ratio (OR) 1.996 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.153–3.453, p<0.014), age (OR) 0.033 (95% CI: 1.016–1.058, p<0.001), and CRP level (OR) 1.009 (95%Cl: 1.005–1.013, p<0.001) were found to be independent risk factors.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Advanced age and high serum CRP levels, as well as the presence of anemia, are important risk factors for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Clinicians should consider that anemia may also be a risk factor in the prognosis of patients with COVID-19.