Lymphocytopenia may predict greater severity in COVID-19
(HealthDay)—Lymphocytopenia may be predictive of disease severity in patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online July 10 in the International Journal of Laboratory Hematology.
Jason Wagner, M.D., from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and colleagues performed a retrospective cohort review study on patients admitted for COVID-19 illness. Basic demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed to assess the association between lymphocytopenia at the time of admission and clinical outcomes.
The researchers found that patients admitted to the intensive care unit were more likely to have a lower lymphocyte count and lymphocytopenia than those who were not (odds ratio, 3.40). Patients with lymphocytopenia were more likely to develop an acute kidney injury during admission (odds ratio, 4.29).
"Because of the uncertainty surrounding the implications of this virus, we knew there needed to be a prognostic factor that could aid hospital workers in managing COVID-19," a coauthor said in a statement. "In this study, we discovered evidence of a relationship between lymphocytopenia and disease severity that could really help clinicians prepare for critically ill patients."
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