Hematological Impact of COVID-19: Anemia in Post-COVID

Abstract

Purpose: This study’s purpose was to assess the relationship between COVID-19 and hematological variations on admission and 6 months after discharge. Patients and Methods: In a prospective observational study at Kafr Shokr Specialized Hospital from September 2021 to September 2022, 292 adult patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 were categorized into hospitalized and non-hospitalized groups. Comprehensive clinical evaluations, including blood assessments-were conducted. The hospitalized patients were re-evaluated for anemia six months after discharge. Results: Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were significantly higher in the non-hospitalized group, with a mean of 14.13 g/dL, compared to the hospitalized group with 12.43 g/dL (p < 0.001). Anemia affected 18.005% of the non-hospitalized group, compared to 45.3% of the hospitalized group. At 6-month follow-up, hospitalized patients showed a decrease in Hb levels and platelet counts and an increase in white blood cell counts. Logistic regression identified baseline anemia, lower Hb, and reduced MCH levels as predictors for post-COVID anemia. Conclusion: The study revealed that COVID-19 severity was associated with anemia, which persisted and increased in prevalence six months post-infection. Baseline anemia, Hb, and MCH levels emerged as crucial predictors for post-COVID anemia, emphasizing the need for continuous hematological monitoring in COVID-19 survivors.