Haematological measurement of the quality of life of COVID-19 patients in a Port Harcourt isolation centre.

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 has been associated with various hematological abnormalities, including lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and changes in white blood cell counts, linked to disease severity and patient outcomes. Using hematological indices, this study assessed patients' quality of life in the COVID-19 centre, Port Harcourt.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving fifty-five (55) COVID-19-positive patients and fifty-five (55) control subjects aged between twenty (20) and sixty-five (65) years at the Port Harcourt COVID-19 isolation center. Blood samples were collected from all consenting participants for haematological investigations. Key haematologic parameters were measured, including Haemoglobin (HGB), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Total White Blood Cell count (TWBC), Granulocyte percentage, Lymphocyte percentage, Mid-cell percentage, and Platelet count. Sysmex XP-300 Automated Haematology Analyzer was used for the analysis.

Results: The findings indicated significant derangements in haematological parameters. Specifically, granulocytes, which constituted mainly of the neutrophils, are significantly increased in patients with COVID-19(51%) when compared with controls (45%) (p = 0.02). Lymphocytes are significantly reduced in the COVID-19 subjects (42%) when compared with the control subjects (49%)(p = 0.01). No significant differences existed in the hemoglobin level, PCV, TWBC count, and Platelet count of the COVID-19 subjects compared to the control subjects. (p = 0.55), (p = 0.19), (p = 0.13) and (p = 0.41) respectively.

Conclusion: The study indicated relative neutrophilia and lymphopenia among COVID-19 subjects.