Covid-19 and diabetes in primary care - How do hematological parameters present in this cohort?

Objectives: Changes in hematological parameters are becoming evident as important early markers of COVID-19. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been shown to be associated with increased severity of COVID-19. In this study, we aim to explore the various hematological variables in COVID-19 positive patients with T2DM, so as to act early and improve patient outcomes.Methods: Medical e-records of seventy adult patients with T2DM who were COVID-19 positive have been analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters for these patients were examined.Results: Of the seventy patients with T2DM, 48.88% had poorly controlled diabetes. 70.69% were pyrexial, 56.25% were tachycardic and 38.58% were asymptomatic on presentation. Amongst the hematological parameters, anemia was seen in 10% of males and 15.38% of females. 20% had a high red-blood-cell-distribution-width (RDW). 7.27% had thrombocytosis and 3.64% had thrombocytopenia. 73.3% had a high platelet-distribution-width (PDW) and 44.44% had an increased mean-platelet-volume (MPV). 16.36% were neutropenic and 16.67% had lymphocytopenia.Conclusion: Diabetic COVID-19 positive patients have been shown to have prominent manifestations of the hemopoietic-system with varied hematological profiles. Recognizing the implications of these variables early in primary-care, can help clinicians aid management decisions and dictate early referral to secondary-care services, to help improve prognosis.

Changes in the mean platelet volume levels after bloodstream infection have prognostic value

OBJECTIVE

Thrombocytopenia is frequently observed during bloodstream infection (BSI); however, little is known about the trends in platelet size during BSI. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in platelet indices during BSI and to determine the relationship between the mean platelet volume (MPV) levels and the prognosis of BSI patients.

METHODS

We conducted a four-year retrospective study to assess the trends in the platelet indices and the clinical features of BSI. We enrolled 350 patients with positive blood cultures and measured the platelet indices during five periods: 30 to seven days before onset (1st period); within one day of onset (2nd period); three to five days after onset (3rd period); seven to 10 days after onset (4th period); and 14 to 19 days after onset (5th period). The end point was defined as 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Among the BSI patients, the average platelet count decreased during BSI (29.4 *10(9)/L to 24.0 *10(9)/L, p<0.001), while the average MPV level increased (7.33 fL to 7.89 fL, p<0.001). The degree of MPV elevation in the nonsurvivors (n=25) was lower than that observed in the survivors (n=325) between the 1st and 2nd periods (0.00 fL vs. 0.35 fL, p=0.006), whereas between the 2nd and 3rd periods, the degree of MPV elevation in the nonsurvivors was higher than that observed in the survivors (0.74 fL vs. 0.19 fL, p=0.03). MPV elevation after BSI was identified to be a negative prognostic factor for BSI (odds ratio: 1.82; 95% confidence interval: 1.00-3.32; p=0.027).

CONCLUSION

Changes in the MPV levels after BSI may therefore be a useful prognostic marker for BSI.