COVID-19 and Anemia: What Do We Know So Far?

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing COVID-19, a global pandemic. The virus primarily targets the respiratory system but can also affect other systems, notably causing hematological pathologies. Anemia, a common hematologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hemoglobin 2023-05, Vol.47 (3), p.122-129
Main Authors: Abu-Ismail, Luai, Taha, Mohammad J J, Abuawwad, Mohammad T, Al-Bustanji, Yaqeen, Al-Shami, Khayry, Nashwan, Abdulqadir, Yassin, Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia - etiology
COVID-19 - complications
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Thrombosis
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Summary:On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing COVID-19, a global pandemic. The virus primarily targets the respiratory system but can also affect other systems, notably causing hematological pathologies. Anemia, a common hematologic disorder, is characterized by the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells. The existing literature has a suspected link between anemia and severe COVID-19 cases. Researchers are currently investigating the long-term complications of COVID-19 in anemic patients, as these complications may play a crucial role in predicting patient prognosis. Anemic individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 infections due to several contributing pathophysiological mechanisms, including thrombotic, hemorrhagic, and autoimmune etiologies. The primary effect of these mechanisms is a decrease in circulating hemoglobin levels, reducing oxygen availability for cells. This exacerbates the hypoxia caused by COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This review offers a comprehensive overview of the evidence regarding the long-term complications of COVID-19 in anemic patients.
ISSN:0363-0269
1532-432X
DOI:10.1080/03630269.2023.2236546