Dynamic changes of platelet-related parameters and their associations with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients during hospitalization

This paper aims to analyze dynamic changes in platelet-related indicators and their associations with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. 220 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the General Hospital of Central Theater Command the PLA from January 21, 2020 to March 25, 2020, were enrolled. These patients were firstly divided into non-severe and severe groups in accordance with disease severity on admission. The patients of the severe group were further divided into survivors and non-survivors according to whether the patient was discharged or deceased. The results demonstrated that IL-6 had negative correlations with PLT (R=−0.318, P<0.001) and PCT (R=−0.323, P<0.001). However, no significant correlations or only weak correlations were found between the platelet-related parameters (PLT, MPV, PDW, PCT, and P-LCR) and other indexes of coagulation and inflammation (PT, APTT, FIB, D-D, and CRP). The dynamic changes of platelet-related parameters in non-severe patients and survivors during hospitalization showed very similar trends and changing rules, while those in the non-survivor group were considerably different. After adjusting for demographic variables and coexisting disorders, the patients with nadir platelet counts of (100–150), (50–100), and (0–50), respectively, possessed a significantly increased risk of mortality (OR=1.81, 95% CI, 0.2–16.44, P>0.05), (OR=9.91, 95% CI, 1.36–72.2, P<0.05), and (OR=53.81, 95% CI, 5.85–495.22, P<0.001) with (150–) as the reference. This study suggests that changing trends of the platelet-related parameterrs during hospitalization especially in the first week after admission, are of great significance for predicting clinical outcomes.