Differentiation of Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Postacute Sequelae by Standard Clinical Laboratory Measurements in the RECOVER Cohort.

Abstract

There are currently no validated clinical biomarkers of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

To investigate clinical laboratory markers of SARS-CoV-2 and PASC.

Propensity score-weighted linear regression models were fitted to evaluate differences in mean laboratory measures by prior infection and PASC index (≥12 vs. 0). (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05172024).

83 enrolling sites.

RECOVER-Adult cohort participants with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection with a study visit and laboratory measures 6 months after the index date (or at enrollment if >6 months after the index date). Participants were excluded if the 6-month visit occurred within 30 days of reinfection.

Participants completed questionnaires and standard clinical laboratory tests.

Among 10 094 participants, 8746 had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, 1348 were uninfected, 1880 had a PASC index of 12 or higher, and 3351 had a PASC index of zero. After propensity score adjustment, participants with prior infection had a lower mean platelet count (265.9 × 10<sup>9</sup> cells/L [95% CI, 264.5 to 267.4 × 10<sup>9</sup> cells/L]) than participants without known prior infection (275.2 × 10<sup>9</sup> cells/L [CI, 268.5 to 282.0 × 10<sup>9</sup> cells/L]), as well as higher mean hemoglobin A<sub>1c</sub> (HbA<sub>1c</sub>) level (5.58% [CI, 5.56% to 5.60%] vs. 5.46% [CI, 5.40% to 5.51%]) and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (81.9 mg/g [CI, 67.5 to 96.2 mg/g] vs. 43.0 mg/g [CI, 25.4 to 60.6 mg/g]), although differences were of modest clinical significance. The difference in HbA<sub>1c</sub> levels was attenuated after participants with preexisting diabetes were excluded. Among participants with prior infection, no meaningful differences in mean laboratory values were found between those with a PASC index of 12 or higher and those with a PASC index of zero.

Whether differences in laboratory markers represent consequences of or risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection could not be determined.

Overall, no evidence was found that any of the 25 routine clinical laboratory values assessed in this study could serve as a clinically useful biomarker of PASC.

National Institutes of Health.

EDRN PI Authors
Medline Author List
  • Ashktorab H
  • Brim H
  • Charney AW
  • Chen P
  • Chu HY
  • Costantine MM
  • Cribbs SK
  • Duffy ER
  • Erdmann NB
  • Erlandson KM
  • Flaherman VJ
  • Foulkes AS
  • Geng LN
  • Go M
  • Goepfert PA
  • Goldberg MP
  • Goldman JD
  • Haack M
  • Han J
  • Henrich TJ
  • Hernandez C
  • Hess R
  • Hornig M
  • Horwitz L
  • Hsu H
  • Julg B
  • Karlson EW
  • Katz SD
  • Kelly JD
  • Kim C
  • Krishnan JA
  • Laiyemo AO
  • Letts R
  • Levitan EB
  • Lin JJ
  • Lin JY
  • Maranga G
  • Marathe J
  • Marshall GD
  • McComsey GA
  • Metz TD
  • Nikolich JŽ
  • Okumura MJ
  • Parthasarathy S
  • Patterson TF
  • Peluso MJ
  • Pemu P
  • Quigley JG
  • Rouse DJ
  • Scholand MB
  • Selvaggi CA
  • Singer NG
  • Singh U
  • Taylor BD
  • Taylor BS
  • Thaweethai T
  • Warren D
  • Wisnivesky J
  • Wood J
PubMed ID
Appears In
Ann Intern Med, 2024 Sep (issue 9)