Estimation of Variations in the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in COVID-19 Recovered Patients

Background: A cluster of patients with pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome developed in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and infection with a novel coronavirus virus called COVID -19 was later verified. Although fever and cough were the most common early signs and symptoms of COVID -19, extrapulmonary symptoms have also been reported. Many studies demonstrate that called COVID -19 swiftly progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome and even multiple organ dysfunction.

Aim:The study aims to evaluate the erythrocyte sedimentation rate count in COVID -19 recovered individuals and compare it with healthy controls.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study in 5 healthy COVID -19 uninfected and 5 COVID -19 recovered individuals was conducted, the blood samples were collected and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was calculated for each set of controls and samples. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. An independent t-test was done to compare the results.

Results: The mean value of the control participants was found to be 8.08 ± 4.38 and the mean value of COVID -19 recovered patients was 20.60 ± 1.81. The difference in Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) values between control individuals and COVID -19 recovered patients was statistically significant with p value of less than 0.005.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, we conclude that the COVID -19 recovered patients has higher ESR values compared to the healthy uninfected individuals.