IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS-A SINGLE CENTRE STUDY, INDIA.

Aims and Objectives: To analyze various hematological parameters in Covid-19 infected patients. Patients/Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, single centre cross sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital, located in a tri-state region. Data was collected from patients admitted in Covid-19 ward and ICU between 28 July to 7 September 2020, confirmed positive for Covid-19 infection. Basic demographic data was collected from Laboratory Information System(LIS) of our hospital . Whole blood EDTA sample sent from Covid-19 ward and ICU were processed in LH780/DXH 500(Beckman coulter) for complete blood counts. Further patients laboratory features were analyzed .Results: Findings of 338 patients, both from ward and ICU, showed varied hematological parameters. Demographic data revealed age range from 1day to 86 years. Males constituted 205(60.65%) and females 133(39.34%).Complete blood count showed Hemoglobin(Hb) concentration ranged from 5.8 -18.5gm/dL and median value 13.6gm/dL. Red cell distribution width(RDW) ranged from 11.4-39.9% with median value of 13.6%. Leucocytosis was observed in 13.9% of patients, high absolute neutrophil count in 15.6% ,high Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio(NLR) in 10.05% patients and eosinophil count ranged from 0-15.3%.Conclusion: Baseline alterations in CBC parameters of 10-15% of patients in the present study along with articles reviewed from various countries indicate Covid -19 infection causes systemic infection involving multiple organs and systems.