Anemia and its Link to COVID-19

COVID-19 and Anemia: Understanding the Connection

COVID-19 is a complex disease caused by the coronavirus, which attacks the body in a variety of ways that are still under investigation. The virus affects various organs and tissues, including the blood, with mild to severe symptoms. People with anemia have a higher chance of developing long-term symptoms of COVID-19 infection even after the virus has cleared the body.

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a disease that occurs when the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to circulate oxygen throughout the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein responsible for transporting and delivering oxygen to organs and tissues. Having anemia means your hemoglobin levels are low, and your body is not getting enough oxygen. Without oxygen, the body lacks the energy needed to function, which causes symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. Anemia has many causes and can either be a short-term or long-term condition. If left untreated, anemia has severe symptoms that may become life-threatening.

Does COVID-19 Cause Anemia?

In a COVID-19 infection, the coronavirus attacks and damages the membrane proteins in the red blood cells. These membranes provide the red blood cell structure, which allows the cells to regulate oxygen release capacity and move smoothly through the capillaries and bloodstream. As a COVID-19 patient with damaged red blood cells, you are more likely to develop blood-related disorders like anemia. When the virus attacks the red blood cells, it may take a while before the body clears and replaces damaged cells with healthy ones, leading to anemia.

Anemia Causes

Anemia has many different types, each with its specific causes. These include:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Vitamin deficiency anemia
• Anemia of inflammation
• Aplastic anemia
• Hemolytic anemia
• Sickle cell anemia
• Anemia from bone marrow disease
• Megaloblastic anemia

Is Anemia a Risk Factor for COVID-19?

The exact pathophysiology of COVID-19 and anemia is not fully understood, and as a result, several potential mechanisms have been proposed. At first, COVID-19 infection was termed an infectious-inflammatory disease that affects the lungs. As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, it became more apparent that the coronavirus affects the lungs and other organs, with various injury pathways. One pathophysiology mechanism suggests that the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can worsen anemia in some patients when it interacts with hemoglobin, specifically its interaction with receptors in the blood cell precursors. Such an interaction has the coronavirus attacking the heme (part of hemoglobin containing iron), which subsequently causes hemolytic anemia.

Anemia and COVID Vaccine: What Have Medical Researchers Uncovered?

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe symptoms and fatalities related to COVID-19. During the pandemic, pharmaceutical companies developed and tested vaccines against the disease. A vaccination strategy was later developed to make the vaccines available to the public. Vaccines usually have side effects that must be reported to the concerned authorities to allow investigations on the risks and benefits and how to act when they occur. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine may cause autoimmune hemolytic anemia, characterized by the body’s immune system destroying red blood cells.

Post-COVID Anemia Treatment

Treatment for post-COVID anemia depends on the cause and severity. People who experience mild anemia symptoms may not require any treatment. Anemia caused by health conditions like COVID-19 or medicines requires a change in treatment to stop or manage the condition. A doctor will prescribe medication to promote the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Symptomatic anemia is often treated using steroids, but if the treatment fails to work, a splenectomy may be performed since the destruction of red blood cells mainly occurs in the spleen.

The Lowdown

Anemia is common and persistent in COVID-19 patients during treatment and recovery. It affects the quality of life and should not be overlooked but investigated and treated. COVID-19 anemia is a predictable illness with severe symptoms that needs comprehensive management and proper treatment.