Leukocyte count has emerged as a significant independent predictor of severe outcomes following COVID-19, particularly among postmenopausal women, according to recent findings published online on January 28 in Menopause. The study, spearheaded by Dr. Ted K.S. Ng and his research team at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, highlights the role of inflammation even before the onset of the virus.
The research was particularly focused on the postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), which refers to the range of health problems reported by individuals following recovery from COVID-19. The analysis drew on data from the Women’s Health Initiative, which included biomarker data from blood specimens collected during the years 1993 to 1998, well before the pandemic began.
Utilizing the responses from 1,237 participants who filled out COVID-19 surveys between June 2021 and February 2022, the study utilized multivariable regression models to determine the association between baseline leukocyte counts and PASC severity. The findings indicated statistically significant positive relationships between elevated leukocyte counts, particularly those greater than or equal to 5.5 x 1,000 cells/µL, and increased PASC severity (β = 0.27 and 0.13, respectively).
Interestingly, the study did not find any significant correlation between leukocyte counts and the occurrence of PASC, nor with cognitive outcomes linked to the condition. Only about 27 percent of participants had available data on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations, which also showed no relationship with PASC outcomes.
Dr. Ng emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “Our study extends the evidence...further supporting a role of inflammation in the etiology of PASC.” This suggests not only the role of heightened inflammatory responses during the acute phase of COVID-19 but also their potential contribution to the debilitating outcomes sometimes experienced by survivors.
The role of leukocytes—inflammatory white blood cells—has been increasingly studied as researchers work to understand how prior health conditions, such as chronic inflammation, can exacerbate COVID-19 severity and subsequent health issues. Previous studies have indicated women, particularly postmenopausal women, exhibit distinct immune responses, which may contribute to the heightened severity and different presentations of COVID-19.
The significance of leukocyte count as a biomarker of inflammation ties back to broader public health discussions surrounding COVID-19 recovery strategies. With the rising recognition of PASC, medical professionals and health policymakers may need to integrate these findings when assessing long-term care approaches for patients recovering from COVID-19.
Overall, this study has important ramifications not just for individual health outcomes, but for informing how we approach care for women who have survived COVID-19. Ongoing research is necessary to establish concrete guidelines based on these associations and to potentially utilize leukocyte counts as part of monitoring recovery trajectories.
Further studies are warranted to explore the mechanistic pathways connecting leukocyte counts to PASC and identify effective interventions addressing inflammatory responses. Investigations like these illuminate the complex interplay between prior health conditions and the far-reaching consequences of novel infections such as COVID-19.
For postmenopausal women, the findings could change how clinicians approach treatment, emphasizing the need for monitoring inflammation and addressing underlying health conditions to improve long-term health and quality of life following COVID-19.