Characteristics of hematological parameters on admission in COVID-19 Omicron variant infected in Chinese population: a large-scale retrospective study

Abstract Background The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, currently the most prevalent strain, has rapidly spread in Jingzhou, China, due to changes in the country’s epidemic prevention policy, resulting in an unprecedented increase in cases. Previous studies reported hematological parameters’ predictive value in COVID-19 severity and prognosis, but their relevance for early diagnosis in patients infected by the Omicron variant, particularly in high-risk pneumonia cases, remains unclear. Our study aimed to evaluate these parameters as early warning indicators for Omicron-infected patients in fever clinics and those with pulmonary infections (PI). Methods A total of 2,021 COVID-19 patients admitted to the fever clinic and infectious disease department of Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University from November 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, were retrospectively recruited. Demographic and hematological parameters were obtained from the electronic medical records of eligible patients. These hematological parameters were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine whether they can be used for early diagnosis of COVID-19 patients in fever clinics and the presence of PI in COVID-19 patients. Results Statistical differences in hematological parameters were observed between COVID-19 patients with fever and PI and control groups (P