Chest Computed Tomography and Severity Markers in COVID-19
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Computed Tomography chest scan is a tool for classification of COVID 19 disease. We propose there is a relation between computed tomography severity index and inflammation biomarkers.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of hospitalized COVID 19 patients in Mexicali´s General Hospital, during the period of March 2020 to December 2020. The inclusion criteria was over 18 years old, confirmatory RT- PCR nasal swab and
available CT chest scan. We extracted data of medical records; variables studied were age, sex, date of symptom onset, date of admission, chest computed tomography score, RT-PCR result, laboratory values (D-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, procalcitonin, C- reactive protein, total leukocytes, lymphocytes), and outcome.
Results: From March 2020 to December 2020, 397 patients were recruited that fulfilled the inclusion criteria from a 700 patient database. Statistically significant differences after t tests between survivors and non-survivors were found for C-reactive protein
(means 47.1 ± 36 vs. 80.1 ± 54 ; p = 0.0009), procalcitonin (means 961 ± 279 vs. 1,032 ± 283; p = 0.023), white blood cells (means 10.57 ± 4.46 vs. 12.33 ± 6.22; p = 0.0026) and lymphocytes (means 0.79 ± 0.50 vs. 0.68 ± 0.40; p value= 0.026).
Conclusions: Laboratory and imaging studies are fundamental for stratification andoutcome pre diction in COVID-19 patients. With these findings we can determine the prognosis of a patient, have a better approach, and search specifically for the relevant
severity markers such as fibrinogen, white blood cells, lymphocytes, and C-reactive protein in hospitals with limited resources.
Article Details
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