Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: July | Volume: 7 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 339-347
D-dimer Levels in COVID-19 Patients and Its Correlation with Age and Gender: A Retrospective Analysis
Kumar Sharp1, Bharat Ghodke2
1MBBS Undergraduate Student, Government Medical College and Civil Hospital, Jalgaon
2Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College and Civil Hospital, Jalgaon
Corresponding Author: Bharat Ghodke
ABSTRACT
Raised levels of coagulation parameters indicate thrombotic disorders which need to be managed as soon as possible. Radiological findings are confirmatory diagnosis in these cases however the increased load and risk of spread of COVID-19 infections makes pathological findings the sole basis to start treatment. D-dimer is a widely used fibrin degradation product test used for initial diagnosis of thrombotic disorders. Studies have shown that a four-fold increase in its levels is a strong indicator of mortality in active COVID-19 cases. In this study we had retrospectively analysed D-dimer data level from patients admitted in tertiary COVID care centre. The final data set obtained comprised of 153 patients out of which 93 were male (60.78%) and 60 were female (39.22%). Numbers of males with elevated D-dimer levels (above 250 ng/ml) were 64 (68.81%). Numbers of females with elevated D-dimer levels (above 250 ng/ml) were 44 (73.33%). Numbers of pre-menopausal females were 23 (38.33%) and numbers of post-menopausal females were 37 (61.67%). Number of pre-menopausal females and having elevated D-dimer levels (above 250 ng/ml) were 16 (69.56%). Number of post-menopausal females and having elevated D-dimer levels (above 250 ng/ml) were 28 (75.67%).From our study we concluded that women and older individuals are at a higher risk of developing thrombotic disorders in COVID-19 infection. Men are comparatively at a lower risk.
Keywords: COVID-19; D-dimer; coagulation parameters; risk; women
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