The association between mortality due to COVID-19 and coagulative parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis study

Abstract

Aims and objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated the association between mortality due to COVID-19 and coagulative factors. Methods A systematic search was conducted on electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science from the beginning of the pandemic until October 2024 to identify relevant studies on COVID-19 patients and their laboratory findings related to coagulation markers and mortality outcome. Eligibility criteria were defined based on the PICO framework, and data extraction was performed by two authors independently using a standardized sheet. Statistical analysis was accomplished using the random effects model, and heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I 2 test. R and RStudio were used for statistical analysis and visualization. Results Our systematic literature search yielded 6969 studies, with 48 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis. The mean platelet count was significantly lower in deceased COVID-19 patients compared to survivors (20.58), while activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and fibrinogen levels did not show significant differences. The pooled mean difference of D-Dimer, International Normalized Ratio (INR), and prothrombin time (PT) were significantly lower in survived patients (-2.45, -0.10, and -0.84, respectively). These findings suggest that platelet count, D-Dimer, INR, and PT may serve as potential indicators of mortality in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in the pooled platelet count among deceased individuals when compared to survivors. However, no significant distinctions were observed in the pooled mean activated aPTT and fibrinogen levels between the deceased and survivor groups. On the other hand, there were noticeable variations in the pooled estimated mean of INR, PT, and D-Dimer levels, with significantly higher values in the deceased group compared to those who survived. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-024-10229-y.