COVID-19 and Low Platelet Count-A Relationship

Abstract

Background: Easily accessible, inexpensive, and widely used laboratory tests that demonstrate the
severity of COVID-19 are important. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship
between mortality in COVID-19 and platelet count, Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), and platelet
distribution width.
Methods: In total, 100 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into
two groups. Patients with room air oxygen saturation < 90% were considered as severe COVID-19, and
patients with ?90% were considered moderate COVID-19. Patient medical records and the electronic
patient data monitoring system were examined retrospectively. Analyses were performed using the
SPSS statistical software. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The patients’ mean age was 64,32 ± 16,07 years. According to oxygen saturation, 38 patients
had moderate and 62 had severe COVID-19. Our findings revealed that oxygen saturation at admission
and the MPV difference between the first and third days of hospitalization were significant parameters
in COVID-19 patients for predicting mortality. While mortality was 8.4 times higher in patients who
had oxygen saturation under 90 % at hospital admission, 1 unit increase in MPV increased mortality
1.76 times.
Conclusion: In addition to the lung capacity of patients, the mean platelet volume may be used as an
auxiliary test in predicting the mortality in COVID-19 patients.