Evaluation of D-dimer Level in COVID-19 Patients

Amal Malik, University of Basrah, College of Pharmacy, Basrah, Iraq.Follow
Noor Kadhim Mohamed-Jawad, University of Basrah, College of Pharmacy, Basrah, Iraq.Follow
Hiba Dawood, University of Basrah, College of Pharmacy, Basrah, Iraq.Follow
Ali Adnan Mohsin, Basrah Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Basrah, Iraq.Follow

Authors' ORCID iD

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9606-7669

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with prothrombotic complications, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. D-dimer, a fibrin degradation product, serves as a biomarker for coagulation abnormalities. This study evaluates the role of D-dimer in predicting disease severity and hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. Aim: To assess correlations between D-dimer levels and age, gender, comorbidities, disease severity, and hospitalization needs in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 78 COVID-19-positive patients admitted to an outpatient clinic was conducted. Data on demographics, comorbidities, vaccination status, disease severity, and admission D-dimer levels were analyzed using statistical tests (t-tests, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U). Results: The mean age of participants was 49 years, with 56.4% males and 43.6% females. Approximately 52% of patients had a comorbid disease, primarily hypertension and diabetes. Older patients and those with coexisting diseases had significantly higher D-dimer levels (p-values 0.017 and 0.045, respectively), with non-significant differences between males and females (p-value 0.648). Older patients had a significantly higher need for hospitalization during acute COVID-19 infection (p-value 0.002). Additionally, patients with elevated admission D-dimer levels showed a greater prevalence of severe disease (p-value 0.01) and a higher need for hospitalization (p-value 0.028). Conclusions: Elevated admission D-dimer levels are strongly linked to severe COVID-19 outcomes and hospitalization, highlighting their utility as an early prognostic marker. Clinical management of COVID-19 patients may be guided by D-dimer assessment, which may help predict disease severity.

Keywords

COVID-19, D-dimer, prognostic marker, thrombosis, hospitalization, disease severity.

Recommended Citation

Malik, Amal; Mohamed-Jawad, Noor Kadhim; Dawood, Hiba; and Mohsin, Ali Adnan (2026) "Evaluation of D-dimer Level in COVID-19 Patients," Iraqi National Journal of Medicine: Vol. 8 : Iss. 1 , Article 7.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.37319/iqnjm.8.1.10