The impact of COVID-19 on blood coagulation profile among Sudanese hospitalized adult patients

ABSTRACT

Covid-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome, the disease presents with a ranging from asymptomatic to severe symptomatic illness with multiple organ failure and death, and can cause a severe effect on the coagulation system. This study aimed to determine the effect of the covid 19 on the extrinsic and intrinsic pathway of coagulation [prothrombin time(PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)] and to determine the association of age and gender with the severity of COVID-19 in Sudan in order to improve the outcome. A cross-sectional study carried out among 487 COVID-19 patients attending Khartoum State. COVID-19 patients were confirmed by RT-PCR. For all patients, the prothrombin times (PT), International normalized ratio (INR), and Activated partial thromboplastin (APTT) were estimated by using a semi-automated coagulometer analyzer. Patients were divided into three subclass groups according to the Severity of COVID-19 (mild, severe in the emergency room) (ER) and intensive care unit (ICU), and the clotting factors values were compared between the groups. The results were statically analyzed by spss version 21 for data analysis. These results showed statistically significant increased Levels of PT, INR, and APTT for all (P. value = 0.000), compared to the control group. Also, the levels of coagulation tests were higher in ICU COVID-19 patients (P. value = 0.000) compared to mild and severe subgroups. This study concluded that coagulation clotting times were increased in COVID-19 patients, especially among patients in ICU which could be a marker for DIC and even death.