Assessing the Role of Coagulation Indicators and Chest CT Scans in Managing COVID-19 Inpatients at Omar Bongo Ondimba Army Training Hospital

Abstract

This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Omar Bongo Ondimba Army Training Hospital over a twelve-month period from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The study aimed to determine the impact of coagulation indicators, specifically D-Dimers and Prothrombin levels, on the management of COVID-19 inpatients and to evaluate the morphological aspects of COVID-19 on chest CT scans. A total of 179 inpatients were enrolled in the study, and data related to coagulation indicators were collected. Patients were classified according to clinical form, CT scan severity score, and different types of anticoagulant treatments.

The retrospective study found a sex ratio of 0.86 and the most represented age group was 50 to 59 years. D-Dimer levels were significantly higher in critical and moderate forms of COVID-19 (mean = 3812.8 ng/mL; median = 1683.5 ng/mL; IQR = 100 – 39743 ng/mL) compared to severe forms (mean = 1398.4 ng/mL; median = 699 ng/mL; IQR = 62 – 10000 ng/mL). Chest CT scans revealed pulmonary injury suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia in 157 patients.

The study findings support the implementation of an anticoagulant protocol due to the co-occurrence of coagulation disorders and inflammatory signs with moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 and the presence of lung injury. Such a protocol can improve the morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients.