Prognostic Impact of Coagulopathy in Patients with COVID-19: a Meta-analysis of 35 Studies and 6427 Patients

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease that appeared in China in December 2019. Several patients with severe COVID-19 infection can develop a coagulopathy according to the ISTH-criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). We conducted a meta-analysis of all available studies on COVID-19 to explore the impact of coagulopathy on severe illness and mortality. An electronic search was performed within PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus electronic databases. The primary endpoint was the difference of D-dimer values between Non-Severe vs Severe disease and Survivors vs Non-Survivors. The primary analysis showed that mean d-dimer is significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with severe disease than in those without (SMD -2.15 [-2.73 to -1.56], I2 98%, P <0.0001). Additional analysis of platelet count showed lower levels of mean PLT in Severe patients than those observed in the Non-Severe patients (SMD 0.77 [0.32 to 1.22], I2 96%, P <0.001). Interestingly, longer mean PT was found in Severe group (SMD -1.34 [-2.06 to -0.62], I2 98%, P <0.0002) compared to Non-Severe group. In conclusion, the results of the present meta-analysis, the largest and most comprehensive to date, demonstrate that Severe COVID-19 infection is associated with higher D-dimer values, lower platelet count and prolonged PT.