Relationship of D‐dimer with severity and mortality in SARS‐CoV‐2 patients : A meta‐analysis
Johanes Nugroho, Ardyan Wardhana, Irma Maghfirah, Eka Prasetya Budi Mulia, Dita Aulia Rachmi, Maya Qurota A’yun, Imanita Septianda
Abstract
Abstract Introduction The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has caused a pandemic. Many studies have shown that several laboratory parameters are related to disease severity and mortality in SARS‐CoV‐2 cases. This meta‐analysis aimed to determine the relationship of a prognostic factor, D‐dimer, with disease severity, need for intensive care unit (ICU) care, and mortality in SARS‐CoV‐2 patients. Methods A systematic search for all observational studies and trials involving adult patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 that had any data related to D‐dimer on admission was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, ProQuest, and MedRxiv databases. We performed random‐effects inverse‐variance weighting analysis using mean difference (MD) of D‐dimer values for outcomes such as disease severity, mortality, and need for ICU care. Results A total of 29 studies (4,328 patients) were included in this meta‐analysis, which revealed a higher mean of D‐dimer levels on admission in severe patients than in nonsevere patients (MD = 0.95, [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61‐1.28], P < .05; I 2 = 90%). The nonsurvivor group had a higher pooled MD of D‐dimer values on admission (MD = 5.54 [95% CI: 3.40‐7.67], P < .05; I 2 = 90%). Patients who needed ICU admission had insignificantly higher D‐dimer values than patients who did not need ICU admission (MD = 0.29, [95% CI: −0.05 to 0.63], P = .10; I 2 = 71%). Conclusion Elevated D‐dimer levels on admission were associated with an increased risk of disease severity and mortality in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.