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Identification of immunological, inflammatory, hematological, and coagulation abnormalities associated with severity and mortality of COVID-19: a meta-analysis of 64 observational studies
  • +12
  • Rundong Qin,
  • Li He,
  • Zhaowei Yang,
  • Nan Jia,
  • Ru-chong Chen,
  • Jiaxing Xie,
  • Wanyi Fu,
  • Hao Chen,
  • Xinliu Lin,
  • Renbin Huang,
  • Tian Luo,
  • Yukai Liu,
  • Siyang Yao,
  • Mei Jiang,
  • Jing Li
Rundong Qin
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Li He
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Zhaowei Yang
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Nan Jia
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Ru-chong Chen
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Jiaxing Xie
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease
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Wanyi Fu
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Hao Chen
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Xinliu Lin
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Renbin Huang
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Tian Luo
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Yukai Liu
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Siyang Yao
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Mei Jiang
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Jing Li
Guangzhou Medical College First Affiliated Hospital
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Abstract

Background: Laboratory abnormalities associated with disease severity and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in many observational studies. However, there are significant heterogeneities in patient characteristics and research methodologies in these studies. Objectives: We aimed to provide an updated synthesis of the association between laboratory abnormalities and COVID-19 prognosis. Methods: We conducted an electronic search of PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, Willey, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for studies reporting hematological, coagulation, inflammatory, and immunological results during hospital admission of COVID-19 patients with different severities and outcomes. Results: A total of 64 studies were included in the current meta-analysis, with 8 hematological, 3 coagulation, 5 inflammatory, and 23 immunological variables reported. Of them, white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts, D-dimer level, procalcitonin (PCT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferretin, serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukins (ILs)–2R, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly increased in severely ill patients and non-survivors. Meanwhile, non-severely ill patients and survivors presented significantly higher counts of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis provides a comprehensive and updated synthesis of the association between admission laboratory abnormalities with severity and mortality of COVID-19. Our results highlight that increases in the levels of PCT, ESR, CRP, ferretin, SAA, IL-2R, IL-6, and IL-10 were associated with disease deterioration, whereas elevated eosinophils, lymphocytes, and T-cell subsets might serve as indicators of favorable outcomes.