Increased estimated blood viscosity (eBV) is associated with higher mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Robert Rosenson, MD, and colleagues examined the correlation between eBV and mortality among 5,621 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The researchers identified associations for estimated high-shear (eHSBV) and low-shear (eLSBV) blood viscosity with increased in-hospital mortality. An increase of one centipoise in eHSBV and eLSBV was associated with increases in death of 36% and 7%, respectively. Participants in the highest versus the lowest quartile of eHSBV had higher mortality (adjusted HR, 1.53). Among multiple subgroups, the association persisted, including among those with no comorbidities (adjusted HR, 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,” Dr. Rosenson and colleagues wrote.
