Is macrocytic erythrocyte a new prognostic parameter in critical COVID-19 disease?

Abstract

Introduction: In critical COVID- 19 patients, we aimed to examine the relationship mortality between the parameters and the macrocytic/microcytic erythrocyte population that are routinely evaluated in each patient admitted to the intensive care unit. Material and Method: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study and was conducted in Kastamonu University, Faculty of Medicine, a tertiary hospital intensive care units located in the North of Turkey .198 nonanemic critical COVID-19 patients treated between November 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups as survival and non survival. APACHE II score, SAPS II score and routine blood examinations of the patients were evaluated. Results: Among the groups; APACHE II score (p<0.001), SAPS II score (p<0.001), CRP (p<0.001), ferritin (p<0.001), d-dimer (p<0.001), platelet distribution width (p<0.009), mean platelet volume (p=0.005) and large platelet ratio (p=0.02) values were higher, platelet counts (p=0.02) were lower, and these parameters were statistically significant between the two groups. There was no difference in erythrocyte distribution volume and microcytic erythrocyte percentage between the groups, but according to the cox regression analysis, each unit increase in macrocytic erythrocyte percentage was associated with a 1.203- fold increase in mortality. Conclusion: Routine procedures performed in every patient admitted to the intensive care unit can provide information about mortality. Macrocytic erythrocyte percentage, which is not generally considered in non-anemic patients, may be a new marker for mortality.