Post-Hospitalization, Levels of D-dimer, C-Reactive Protein, Ferritin, And Lactate Dehydrogenase in Recovered COVID-19 Iraqi Patients

Abstract

Tamarah Hmed Ahmed, Noor H. Al-Mousawi

This study was performed to evaluate concentration of D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to monitor treatment response of COVID -19 patients at the post hospitalization period. Results of present study revealed that there significant increases in patients showing abnormal values for the LDH, CRP, and ferritin; but not for D-dimer that decreased significantly. Higher elevation (P<0.0001) in concentration of blood biomarkers was detected among the group of abnormal values when compared to the group of normal values of study patients. In addition, the concentration of D-dimer had showed a significant higher concentration in patients with abnormal values. Concerning time-required recovery and age factors, we showed that the patients required 4-30 (13.35±0.65) days for recovery; while the age of study population was ranged 26-95 (54.85±1.57) years and the percentage of COVID-19 patients were increased with the advancing of age. Relation to gender factor, abnormal values of study biomarkers reported that there no significant differences (P>0.05) between males and females. Among three study age groups (≤39, 40-59, and 60 years), the findings of study biomarkers showed insignificant differences (P>0.05) in concentration of D-dimer, CRP, and LDH; but not in concentration of ferritin that increased significantly (P≤0.0065) at the group of 40-59 years. As well as the findings of time-required recovery found that there insignificant variation (0≤0.084) between the study age groups. In conclusion, our study found a significant prevalence of abnormal values and significant elevation in concentration of blood biomarkers, particularly Di-dimer, in recovered COVID-19 patients indicating the potential high risk of infection. Therefore, the discovery of how different biomarkers behave post the course of the disease could help in identifying severe disease and subsequently improve prognosis. Nevertheless, we urge for more research across the globe to corroborate these findings.