Comparison of Oral Anticoagulant Users With Non-Users Admission Laboratory Parameters, Length of Hospital Stay and Outcomes In COVID-19 Infection

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the effect of OA use during COVID-19 disease on early admission laboratory parameters and/or length of hospital stay in patients using chronic oral anticoagulant (OA) medication
METHODS: This retrospective study was included two groups; group 1 (n=62) consisted of OA users, and group 2 (n=75) of age and sex-matched of OA non-users at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Early admission laboratory measures, numbers of comorbidities, length of hospital stay, and outcomes of these patients were recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS: Despite higher comorbidities in group 1, their serum CRP and D-dimer levels were significantly lower than group 2. (p<0.05, all). The mortality rate was higher in group 2 patients, but not reached a statistical significance (p>0.05).
Regression analysis showed that OA users (compared to non-OA users) had 0.980 and 0.520 times lower serum CRP and D-dimer levels, respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study showed a beneficial effect of OA use on early admission serum CRP, and D-dimer levels, which are important prognostic predictors in COVID-19. Additionally, OA use is associated with lesser hospital stay days of COVID-19 patients. These beneficial effects of OA use might help in improving the management of this infection after further dedicated studies in this field.Keywords: Anticoagulant, COVID-19, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, length of hospital stay, outcome.