Lymphocytopenia delays recovery in COVID-19 infected patients.

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effect of reduced lymphocyte count on the recovery of Covid 19 infected patients. Study Design: Observational study. Setting: Rawal Institute of Health Sciences Islamabad, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Period: March 2021 till June 2021. Material & Methods: Sample Size: One hundred adult humans suffering from COVID-19 infection. Hundred adult patients with positive PCR test for corona virus were selected. Adult patients belonging to both genders with reduced lymphocyte count and no immunological and blood disorder were included and those below the age of 18 years with any disorder related to immune system or blood were excluded. Adult patients were divided in two groups A and B with 50 patients in each group. Lymphocyte count of all the patients was noted from the record in the laboratory of Rawal institute of health sciences and Pakistan institute of Medical sciences Islamabad. Group A were those whose lymphocyte count was close to reference range and group B were those whose lymphocyte count was very low. Follow up of all the patients was done. Reduction and disappearance of symptoms like fever and cough were considered as recovery symptoms. Statistical Analysis: Data was entered using SPSS version 25. Data was checked for normality by using shapirowilk test. The comparison in the days of recovery with the lymphocyte count showed a significant difference of P value of 0.00. Results: Group A patients had mean lymphocyte count 0.87 x 10⁹ / L and Group B had mean lymphocyte count of 0.45 x 10⁹ / L. The average recovery time for corona virus infected patients with marked reduction in lymphocyte count is 19 days and those with mild reduction in lymphocyte count the average recovery time is 12 days. Conclusion: Patients suffering from COVID-19 infection with less lymphocytopenia showed early recovery and disappearance of symptoms as compared to those with more lymphocytopenia.