Variant-Related Differences in Laboratory Biomarkers among Patients Affected with Alpha, Delta and Omicron: A Retrospective Whole Viral Genome Sequencing and Hospital-Setting Cohort Study

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) with specific characteristics have emerged and spread worldwide. At the same time, clinicians routinely evaluate the results of certain blood tests upon patient admission as well as during hospitalization to assess disease severity and the overall patient status. In the present study, we searched for significant cell blood count and biomarker differences among patients affected with the Alpha, Delta and Omicron VOCs at admission. Data from 330 patients were retrieved regarding age, gender, VOC, cell blood count results (WBC, Neut%, Lymph%, Ig%, PLT), common biomarkers (D-dimers, urea, creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, CRP, IL-6, suPAR), ICU admission and death. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, the Kruskal–Wallis test, two-way ANOVA, Chi-square, T-test, the Mann–Whitney test and logistic regression was performed where appropriate using SPSS v.28 and STATA 14. Age and VOC were significantly associated with hospitalization, whereas significant differences among VOC groups were found for WBC, PLT, Neut%, IL-6, creatinine, CRP, D-dimers and suPAR. Our analyses showed that throughout the current pandemic, not only the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs but also the laboratory parameters that are used to evaluate the patient’s status at admission are subject to changes.

Effects of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Variants on Platelet Morphology and Activation

“…For example, in an epidemiological investigation where the authors compared the platelet count across sequential waves of COVID-19, the number of platelets was found to be significantly lower during the Alpha and Delta epidemic waves compared with the period of Omicron predominance. 27 These results have been confirmed by another study, showing that the platelet count of patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was consistently higher than that of patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. 28 Disruption of platelet integrity and aggregation/agglutination (as clearly shown in Fig.…”

Mapping of biomarker efficacy in SARS-CoV-2: tracking the impact of viral mutations and vaccinations

“…Sadly, urea and troponin now appear to perform unevenly as well 14 15 , although we are limited by the very small number of studies. We hypothesize that biomarker efficacy in any population at this given time now hinges on many factors including: Population factors – the numbers vaccinated and/or previously infected, the age and co-morbidities present, Variant factors such as pathogenicity and transmissibility, Socio-economic factors such as access to healthcare and nutritional status, and that each country likely has its personalised ‘ingredient list’ which is why overarching patterns are now lost. …”

Relationship between serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and prognosis in patients infected with omicron and delta variants of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

“…The findings of this study contribute to the growing body of evidence on the prognostic significance of LDH in COVID-19. LDH is an enzyme involved in cellular metabolism and is released into the bloodstream in response to tissue damage or injury [13] . Elevated LDH levels have been associated with poor prognosis in various diseases, including respiratory infections.…”