Study Finds White Blood Cell Count May Indicate COVID-19 Severity in Women

New Delhi: A new international study suggests that white blood cell (leukocyte) count could be a key indicator of severe COVID-19 outcomes in postmenopausal women. Researchers from the US and Singapore found that even months after initial infection, millions continue to experience lingering effects of the disease, with cognitive impairment and fatigue being the most common. Notably, cognitive impairment affects about 70% of patients.

Older adults, particularly women, are at higher risk of post-COVID complications, according to the study led by researchers from Rush University, Harvard Medical School, and Ohio State University. “Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 significantly impact quality of life, often causing severe disability. This effect is especially pronounced in women, who already face higher rates of cognitive impairment after menopause,” said Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society.

The study aimed to identify pre-existing risk factors that may make postmenopausal women more vulnerable to persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Researchers focused on whether leukocyte count, a widely used marker of systemic inflammation, was linked to disease outcomes.

Published in Menopause, the study’s findings revealed that leukocyte count serves as an independent predictor of COVID-19 symptom severity in postmenopausal women. This reinforces existing evidence that low-grade inflammation not only results from severe COVID-19 but may also precede acute infection.

While further research is needed, the findings are promising because leukocyte count is an easily accessible and cost-effective clinical marker. Identifying inflammation levels early could help in predicting and managing severe post-COVID symptoms, the researchers noted.

The researchers emphasize that these findings could have significant clinical implications, as leukocyte count is a simple and cost-effective test that is already widely used in medical practice. By monitoring white blood cell levels, healthcare providers may be able to identify postmenopausal women at higher risk of severe and long-term COVID-19 symptoms early on.

The study underscores the importance of understanding underlying risk factors to mitigate the long-term impact of COVID-19, particularly among postmenopausal women. By recognizing the role of inflammation in disease progression, healthcare providers may be able to develop more targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes.