Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 106 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ardabil, Iran. The patients’ affliction with COVID-19 was diagnosed and confirmed based on the results of RT-PCR, throat swab, and lung CT scan tests. In the first day of hospitalization, a written consent was obtained from each of the patients and then their demographic information including their age, gender, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, and history of smoking was recorded on an information form. After the preliminary completion of the information forms, 3 cc of intravenous blood sample was taken from each of the patients. Then serum was separated from the blood samples in order to check the patients’ INR, PT, CBC, and D-dimer levels. After that, the patients were investigated and monitored in terms of their clinical course, response to treatment, the need to be transferred to ICU, percentage of arterial blood oxygen saturation, mortality, and the related complications. Then the obtained clinical information and test results were all recorded in checklists. Patients with history of malignancies, those suffering from chronic liver diseases, kidney diseases, hemoglobinopathy, and blood disorders, as well as those who used anticoagulant drugs were all excluded from the study.