Comparison of oral anticoagulant users with non-users admission
laboratory parameters, length of hospital stay and outcomes in COVID-19
infection
Abstract
Introduction Oral anticoagulants (OAs) are not in routine use during
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Studies that compare the COVID-19
infection outcome of chronic OA users with their peers of non-OA users
are available. To the best of our knowledge, none of these studies
evaluated the effect of OA use on the COVID-19 related early admission
laboratory parameters and/or length of the hospital stay. So, we will
study these here. Methods This retrospective study was included 2
groups; group 1 (n=62) consisted of OA users, and group 2 (n=75) of age,
and sex-matched of OA non-users at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Early
admission laboratory measures, numbers of comorbidities, length of
hospital stay, and outcomes of these patients were recorded and analyzed
Results Despite higher numbers of comorbidities in group 1, their serum
CRP and D-dimer levels were significantly lower than the group 2.
(p<0.05, all). The rate of mortality was higher in group 2
patients, but, it has not reached a statistical significance
(p>0.05). Regression analysis showed that OA users (in
comparison to non-OA users) had 0.980 and 0.520 times lower serum CRP
and D-dimer levels, respectively. Conclusions This study showed a
beneficial effect of OA use on early admission serum CRP, and D-dimer
levels, which are important prognostic predictors in COVID-19.
Additionally, OA use associated with lesser hospital stay days of
COVID-19 patients. These beneficial effects of OA use might help in
improving the management of this infection after further dedicated
studies in this field.