Table 1.
Summary of clinical characteristics and laboratory data of confirmed and suspected COVID‐19 cases in patients with β‐thalassaemias.
| Parameters | COVID‐19 (RT‐PCR positive; n = 15) | Suspected COVID‐19 (n = 8) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (year), mean ± SD, min–max | 36·1 ± 12·1, 22–66 | 39·6 ± 9·03, 30–54 |
| Sex (m/f) | 7/8 | 7/1 |
| Thalassaemia type (n, %) | = | = |
| TDT | 12 (80) | 6 (75) |
| NTDT | 3 (20) | 2 (25) |
| Splenectomy (yes) (n, %) | 12 (80) | 4 (57·1) |
| Serum ferritin (ng/ml) | ||
| Mean ± SD | 1725 ± 2245 | 2847 ± 3189 |
| Median (min–max) | 830 (225–8200) | 2000 (545–9556) |
| (n, %) | = | = |
| ≤2000 | 11(78·6) | 4 (57·1) |
| >2000 | 3 (21·4) | 3 (42·9) |
| Haemoglobin (g/l), mean ± SD | 89 ± 6·8 | 84 ± 14·4 |
| White blood cell count (per µl), mean ± SD | 15 885 ± 11 579 | 22 914 ± 15 830 |
| Platelet count (per µl), mean ± SD | 530 820 ± 289 787 | 514 428 ± 213 550 |
| Heart or liver iron overload (moderate and severe) (n, %) | 5 (33·3) | 3 (37·5) |
| Hydroxycarbamide (yes) (n, %) | 3 (20) | 4 (50) |
| Comorbidities (yes) (n, %) | 12 (80%) | 5 (62·5) |
| Major underlying disease* | 7 (46·7) | 4 (50) |
| Symptoms (N, %) | = | = |
| Fever | 10 (66·7) | 3 (37·5) |
| Cough | 9 (60) | 2 (25) |
| Dyspnoea | 4 (26·6) | 2 (25) |
| Rhinorrhoea and sneezing | 1 (6·6) | NR |
| Sinusitis | 1 (6·6) | NR |
| Myalgia | NR | 1 (12·5) |
| Diarrhoea | NR | 1 (12·5) |
| Anosmia and hearing loss | 1 (6·6) | NR |
| Weakness in lower extremities | 1 (6·6) | NR |
| Condition | = | = |
| Recovered | 11 (73·3) | 6 (75) |
| Death | 4 (26·6) | 2 (25) |
RT‐PCR, reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction; TDT, transfusion‐dependent β‐thalassaemia; NTDT, non‐transfusion‐dependent β‐thalassaemia; NR, not reported.
*
Heart disease, diabetes, pulmonary artery hypertension, and hypertension.