Table 5.
Paraclinical findings of elderly patients (≥70 years old) hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection stratified by COVID-19 pandemic wave.
| Paraclinical Findings | Normal Range | 1st Wave (n = 60) | 2nd Wave (n = 60) | 3rd Wave (n = 60) | 4th Wave (n = 60) | 5th Wave (n = 60) | 6th Wave (n = 60) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBC (millions/mm3) | 4.35–5.65 | 20 (32.8%) | 23 (37.7%) | 13 (21.3%) | 17 (27.9%) | 16 (26.2%) | 18 (29.5%) | 0.454 |
| WBC (thousands/mm3) | 4.5–11.0 | 18 (29.5%) | 23 (37.7%) | 16 (26.2%) | 21 (34.4%) | 20 (32.8%) | 17 (27.9%) | 0.750 |
| Lymphocytes (thousands/mm3) | 1.0–4.8 | 24 (40.0%) | 23 (38.3%) | 28 (46.7%) | 29 (48.3%) | 26 (43.3%) | 30 (50.0%) | 0.752 |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 13.0–17.0 | 13 (21.3%) | 18 (29.5%) | 14 (23.0%) | 14 (23.0%) | 17 (27.9%) | 16 (26.2%) | 0.889 |
| Hematocrit (%) | 36–48 | 14 (23.0%) | 18 (29.5%) | 15 (25.0%) | 16 (26.7%) | 14 (23.0%) | 17 (27.9%) | 0.949 |
| ALT (U/L) | 7–35 | 17 (27.9%) | 19 (31.7%) | 20 (33.3%) | 27 (45.0%) | 17 (27.9%) | 13 (21.3%) | 0.134 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 20-250 | 15 (25.0%) | 12 (20.0%) | 16 (26.7%) | 17 (27.9%) | 12 (20.0%) | 14 (23.3%) | 0.855 |
| ESR (mm/h) | 0–22 | 32 (53.3%) | 30 (50.0%) | 28 (46.7%) | 36 (60.0%) | 35 (58.3%) | 28 (46.7%) | 0.552 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 0–10 | 29 (48.3%) | 31 (51.7%) | 27 (45.0%) | 38 (63.3%) | 32 (53.3%) | 30 (50.0%) | 0.449 |
| Fibrinogen (g/L) | 2–4 | 19 (31.7%) | 18 (29.5%) | 15 (25.0%) | 17 (27.9%) | 20 (33.3%) | 21 (34.4%) | 0.871 |
| Procalcitonin (ug/L) | 0–0.25 | 11 (18.3%) | 9 (15.0%) | 13 (21.7%) | 15 (25.0%) | 15 (25.0%) | 9 (15.0%) | 0.555 |
| D-dimers (ng/mL) | <250 | 10 (16.7%) | 11 (54.0%) | 9 (15.0%) | 13 (21.7%) | 14 (23.0%) | 10 (16.7%) | 0.839 |
| IL-6 (pg/mL) | 0–16 | 21 (34.4%) | 20 (32.8%) | 23 (37.7%) | 22 (36.7%) | 24 (40.0%) | 17 (27.9%) | 0.813 |
| Creatinine (µmol/L) | 0.74–1.35 | 8 (13.3%) | 8 (13.3%) | 6 (10.0%) | 9 (15.0%) | 4 (6.7%) | 5 (8.3%) | 0.659 |
Data reported as % outside the normal range and calculated using the Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test unless specified differently; RBC—Red Blood Cells; WBC—White Blood Cells; ESR—Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate; CRP—C-reactive Protein; IL-6—Interleukin 6; ALT—Alanine Aminotransferase.