Elevated plasma D-dimer concentrations in adults after an outpatient-treated COVID-19 infection

  • Elevated D-dimer plasma concentrations are common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and are often associated with a worse prognosis, but it is not yet clear whether this also applies to outpatient cases. The present cross-sectional study evaluated D-dimer levels and their association with clinical parameters and inflammation biomarkers after a COVID-19 disease in individuals treated as outpatients. The study included 411 individuals (43.3% men) with an average age of 46.8 years (SD 15.2). Study participants who had acute COVID-19 disease at a median of 235 days (120; 323) ago were examined at the University Hospital Augsburg, Southern Germany, between 11/2020 and 05/2021. Plasma D-dimers were measured by a particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Sixty-one subjects (15%) showed increased D-dimer concentrations (≥500 µg/L). Study participants with elevated D-dimer levels in comparison to subjects with levels in the reference range were significantly older, and more frequentlyElevated D-dimer plasma concentrations are common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and are often associated with a worse prognosis, but it is not yet clear whether this also applies to outpatient cases. The present cross-sectional study evaluated D-dimer levels and their association with clinical parameters and inflammation biomarkers after a COVID-19 disease in individuals treated as outpatients. The study included 411 individuals (43.3% men) with an average age of 46.8 years (SD 15.2). Study participants who had acute COVID-19 disease at a median of 235 days (120; 323) ago were examined at the University Hospital Augsburg, Southern Germany, between 11/2020 and 05/2021. Plasma D-dimers were measured by a particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Sixty-one subjects (15%) showed increased D-dimer concentrations (≥500 µg/L). Study participants with elevated D-dimer levels in comparison to subjects with levels in the reference range were significantly older, and more frequently reported a history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, venous thromboembolism, and chronic venous insufficiency. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, CRP levels (OR 5.58 per mg/dL, 95% CI 1.77–17.60) and white blood cell count (OR 1.48 per nL, 95% CI 1.19–1.83) were significantly related to elevated D-dimers even after adjustment for multiple testing. However, acute or persistent symptoms were not significantly associated with increased D-dimers. Elevated D-dimer levels months after an acute COVID-19 disease seems to be associated with markers of inflammation. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and consequences of prolonged D-dimer elevation in these patients.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Christa MeisingerGND, Inge Kirchberger, Tobias D. Warm, Alexander Hyhlik-DürrORCiDGND, Yvonne Goßlau, Jakob LinseisenGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1000305
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/100030
ISSN:1999-4915OPAC
Parent Title (English):Viruses
Publisher:MDPI
Type:Article
Language:English
Date of first Publication:2022/11/03
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2022/12/08
Tag:COVID-19; D-dimer; hypercoagulability; inflammation; outpatients
Volume:14
Issue:11
First Page:2441
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/v14112441
Institutes:Medizinische Fakultät
Medizinische Fakultät / Universitätsklinikum
Medizinische Fakultät / Lehrstuhl für Gefäßchirurgie
Medizinische Fakultät / Lehrstuhl für Epidemiologie
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Licence (German):CC-BY 4.0: Creative Commons: Namensnennung (mit Print on Demand)