Erythrogram Indicators as Prognostic Biomarkers in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

Despite the decrease in acute Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains significant in the fields of respiratory medicine and the management of infectious diseases. COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to global public health, highlighting the importance of prognostic biomarkers in critically ill patients. The oxidative stress in COVID-19 is associated with impairment in various organs and systems, leading to erythrocyte injury which, in turn, promotes the elevation of red cell distribution width (RDW) and systemic inflammation [1-3]. The present study examined the prognostic value of erythrogram indicators in intensive care unit (ICU) patients affected by COVID-19, emphasizing their role in predicting severe clinical outcomes. This study involved 91 ICU patients, categorized into survivor patients and non-survivor patients. The non- survivor patients showed higher RDW and lower values of red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit respect survivor group. The RDW increase was also correlated with the rise of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, another important clinical outcome for these patients. In conclusion, elevated RDW and CRP levels at hospital admission may be reliable prognostic biomarkers of unfavorable outcomes. These preliminary data can contribute to more comprehensive laboratory monitoring during hospitalization.