Elevated D-dimer levels on admission are associated with severity and increased risk of mortality in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate the correlation of D-dimer levels measured on admission with disease severity and the risk of death in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Materials and methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search from several databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed in abstracting data and assessing validity. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS). D-dimer levels were pooled and compared between severe/non-severe and surviving/nonsurviving patient groups. Weighted mean difference (WMD), risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed. Results: Thirty-nine studies reported on D-dimer levels in 5750 non-severe and 2063 severe patients and 16 studies reported on D-dimer levels in 2783 surviving and 697 non-surviving cases. D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients with severe clinical status (WMD: 0.45 mg/L, 95% CI: 0.34-0.56; p < 0.0001). Non-surviving patients had significantly higher D-dimer levels compared to surviving patients (WMD: 5.32 mg/L, 95% CI: 3.90-6.73; p < 0.0001). D-dimer levels above the upper limit of normal (ULN) was associated with higher risk of severity (RR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.25-2.00; p < 0.0001) and mortality (RR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.40-2.37; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Increased levels of D-dimer levels measured on admission are significantly correlated with the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and may predict mortality in hospitalized patients. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found that elevated D-dimer levels on admission are significantly correlated with the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and may predict mortality in hospitalized patients, indicating it as a potential predictive marker.