Research Article

Evaluation of Haemostatic Markers in COVID-19 Patients at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

COVID-19 has been associated with coagulopathy, characterized by elevated levels of specific haemostatic markers. Understanding these markers is crucial for assessing disease severity and guiding treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of haemostatic markers in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls and to analyze the impact of demographic factors such as age and sex on these markers. The study was a cross-sectional study involving 110 participants who were recruited by random sampling, comprising 55 COVID-19 patients and 55 healthy controls. Serum levels of PT, INR, APTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were measured and analyzed using ANOVA and T test for statistical significance across different age groups and sexes. The study found that COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly higher levels of fibrinogen (56.12±13.76 ng/ml vs. 35.07±12.84 ng/ml; p=0.00) and D-dimer (420.10±387.31 ng/ml vs. 173.78±145.61 ng/ml; p=0.001) compared to controls, indicating a hypercoagulable state associated with the infection. Other markers such as PT and INR showed no significant differences between groups (p=0.59 and p=0.67 respectively). Age related analysis revealed that fibrinogen levels varied significantly between the age groups of 21-30 years and 41-50 years (p=0.04), while no significant differences were noted in PT, INR, APTT, or D-dimer across age categories. The study population was predominantly younger, with 49% aged 21-30 years, and exhibited a near-equal sex distribution (51% females, 49% males). The findings underscore the importance of monitoring haemostatic markers in COVID-19 patients, particularly fibrinogen and D-dimer, as they are indicative of disease severity and thrombotic risk. The study highlights the need for further research to explore the implications of these markers in diverse populations and their potential role in clinical management strategies for COVID-19.

Keywords: Fibrinogen, D-dimer, Prothrombin time (PT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Thrombosis, Coagulation.

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