Hematological Alterations in COVID-19 Patients: Insights from a Descriptive Study in Tlemcen, Algeria

COVID-19, caused by the zoonotic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, first emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It was later declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization due to its rapid spread and significant impact on public health. The virus is characterized by high transmissibility and variable clinical outcomes, ranging from mild respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Several studies have highlighted the role of hematological parameters in understanding disease severity and progression. This study aimed to analyze the hematological parameters of COVID-19 patients in Tlemcen, Algeria, through a descriptive approach. Data were collected from private laboratories in Tlemcen between January and March 2024. The sample population included individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. The study categorized patients based on age and gender and analyzed five key parameters from complete blood count (CBC) tests: white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, hemoglobin levels, and platelet count. Correlation tests were performed to determine potential associations between these hematological parameters. Preliminary findings indicated variations in blood parameters among infected individuals. Certain abnormalities, such as lymphopenia and an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), were more pronounced in specific patient groups. Age and gender appeared to influence these variations, with older individuals showing more significant deviations from normal values. Our results suggest that hematological parameters can serve as potential indicators for COVID-19 progression and severity. Understanding these changes could contribute to early risk stratification and improved patient management. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.