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.