Effect of COVID-19 on hematological parameters and subsequent risk of anemia and bleeding in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has resulted in a significant number of infections, particularly among individuals with type 2 diabetes, who are at an increased risk. Our goal was to examine how COVID-19 has affected hematological parameters and coagulation markers in elderly patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

The study conducted at tertiary-care hospitals in Tabuk focused on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were also infected with COVID-19. The research included patients aged 45 and older, all of whom had at least 6 months of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Patients were excluded from the study if they had active malignancies, recent changes in their antidiabetic medications, severe infections or surgeries, or decompensated liver disease or heart failure.

RESULTS

The study included 65 patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with type 2 diabetes exhibited a notable decrease in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, and platelet count, accompanied by a significant increase in red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time. Following the complete recovery of patients from COVID-19, all hematological parameters reverted to their pre-COVID-19 infection levels.

CONCLUSION

Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 may experience hematological dysregulation, characterized by decreased red blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit values, predisposing them to anemia. Additionally, they are at an increased risk of bleeding due to reduced platelet count, prolonged prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time. The results are not affected by gender.