Anemia is a risk factor for rehospitalization after SARS-CoV-2 clearance

  1. Patrick Lenehan
  2. Eshwan Ramudu
  3. AJ Venkatakrishnan
  4. Gabriela Berner
  5. Reid McMurry
  6. John C. O’Horo
  7. Andrew D. Badley
  8. William Morice
  9. John Halamka
  10. Venky Soundararajan
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Abstract

Background

As the number of new and recovering COVID-19 cases continues to rise, it has become evident that patients can experience symptoms and complications after viral clearance. Clinical biomarkers characterizing patients who are likely to experience these prolonged effects are unknown.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study to compare longitudinal lab test measurements (hemoglobin, hematocrit, estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen) in patients rehospitalized after PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 clearance (n=104) versus patients not rehospitalized after viral clearance (n=278).

Findings

Compared to patients who were not rehospitalized after PCR-confirmed viral clearance, those who were rehospitalized had lower median hemoglobin levels in the year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis (cohen’s D = -0.50; p=1.2×10 −3 ) and during the active infection window (cohen’s D = -0.71; p=4.6×10 −8 ). Patients hospitalized after viral clearance were also more likely to be diagnosed with moderate or severe anemia during the active infection window (OR = 2.18; p = 4.99×10 −9 ).

Conclusions

The occurrence of moderate or severe anemia in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is strongly associated with rehospitalization after viral clearance. Whether interventions to mitigate anemia can improve long term outcomes of COVID-19 patients should be further investigated.

Funding

This study was funded by nference.

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