Increased Blood Viscosity Linked to Mortality in COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, July 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Increased estimated blood viscosity (eBV) is associated with increased mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to a study published in the July 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Daein Choi, M.D., from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, and colleagues examined the correlation between eBV and mortality among 5,621 hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the Mount Sinai Health System from Feb. 27, 2020, to Nov. 27, 2021.

The researchers identified associations for estimated high-shear (eHSBV) and low-shear blood viscosity (eLSBV) with increased in-hospital mortality. An increase of one centipoise in eHSBV and eLSBV was associated with increases in death of 36 and 7 percent, respectively. Participants in the highest versus the lowest quartile of eHSBV had higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.53). Among multiple subgroups, the association persisted, including among those without any comorbidities (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.69).

"The variables to calculate eBV (hematocrit, albumin, and total protein) are readily available to practitioners, and are easily obtained from most admission labs, and easily accessible, suggesting a possible use of eBV as an efficient and simple risk assessment of patients with COVID-19 to offer proper preventive therapy," the authors write.

Two authors are employees of Rheovector.

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