Predictors of The Chest CT Score in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-777254/v1

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Predictors of The Chest CT Score in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-777254/v1

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published 18 Nov, 2021

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Background: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, pulmonary involvement was one of the most significant concerns in assessing patients. In the current study, we evaluated patient’s signs, symptoms, and laboratory data on the first visit to predict the severity of pulmonary involvement and their outcome regarding their initial findings.

Methods: All referred patients to the CODID-19 clinic of a tertiary referral university hospital were evaluated from April to August 2020. Four hundred seventy-eight COVID-19 patients with positive real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or highly suggestive symptoms with computed tomography(CT) imaging results with typical findings of COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. The clinical features, initial laboratory, CT findings, and short-term outcomes (ICU admission, mortality, length of hospitalization, and recovery time) were recorded. In addition, the severity of pulmonary involvement was assessed using a semi-quantitative scoring system (0-25).

Results: Among 478 participants in this study, 353 (73.6%) were admitted to the hospital, and 57 (11.9%) patients were admitted to the ICU. Myalgia (60.3%), fever (59.3%), and dyspnea (57.8%) were the most common symptoms of participants at the first visit. A review of chest CT scans showed that Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) (58.5%) and consolidation (20.7%) were the most patterns of lung lesions. Among initial clinical and laboratory findings, anosmia (P = 0.01), respiratory rate (RR) with a cut point of 25 (P = 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) with a cut point of 90 (P = 0.002), white Blood Cell (WBC) with a cut point of 10,000 (P = 0.009), and SpO₂ with a cut point of 93 (P = 0.04) was associated with higher chest CT score. Lung involvement and consolidation lesions on chest CT scans were also associated with a more extended hospitalization and recovery period.

Conclusions: Initial assessment of COVID-19 patients, including symptoms, vital signs, and routine laboratory tests, can predict the severity of lung involvement and unfavorable outcomes.

Virology

COVID-19

Computed Tomography

Outcome

Recovery

Chest CT score

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Caused by a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread to 223 countries with more than 186 million confirmed cases and more than 4 million deaths (World Health Organization)(1). SARS-CoV-2 shares similarities in disease dynamics, transmission route, and cell entry receptors, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). (2–4)

Person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs with respiratory droplets from an infected person to others. Viral shedding may occur 1–2 days before the onset of symptoms and may continue for 1–2 weeks in mild to moderate cases or go beyond two weeks in severe cases(5, 6). Symptoms usually appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure; The common initial symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue, and dyspnea (7, 8), with more specific symptoms, including loss of taste and smell(6). SARS-CoV-2 targets multiple organs, including respiratory, cardiac, and renal systems causing pneumonia and respiratory failure in patients (9, 10). In addition, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and cytokine storm contribute to multi-organ failure and coagulopathy in critical patients with COVID-19 (11, 12).

Computed tomography (CT) is the most sensitive tool for diagnosing COVID-19, and several radiological patterns are seen in different phases of disease (13, 14). Among different patterns of chest CT scan, Ground-glass opacities (GGO) and mixed GGO with consolidation is reported as the most common patterns in COVID-19 patients(15). Although definite diagnosis relies on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (16), chest CT is a valuable modality to measure the extent of lung involvement and propose a treatment plan.

Initial assessment of COVID-19 patients is essential for further management. In this study, we assessed the patient’s signs, symptoms, laboratory tests, and imaging findings to identify which initial clinical and laboratory findings may predict the severity of lung involvement and, accordingly, short-term outcome.

Study design and participants

The study protocols and consent notes were reviewed and approved by the ethics board of our institute (approval code: TUMS.VCR.REC.1399.138). This study is a cross-sectional, observational, single-center study conducted between April and August 2020 at a tertiary medical center. All referred patients to the COVID-19 clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, university hospital, were evaluated for eligibility of participation in the study. Patients with clinical symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 who had positive RT-PCR confirming COVID-19 or suggestive chest CT scan were recruited after signing a written informed consent form. Four physicians did the patient examination and data registration, and five medical residents followed up with the patients through telephone calls. Both hospitalized (after discharge) and outpatient participants were followed through telephone calls until symptoms resolved. Treatment regimens were based on the latest version of the national protocol of COVID-19 (hydroxychloroquine was used as the primary therapeutic option in the outpatient setting; hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), atazanavir (nonboosted with ritonavir or cobicistat) were administered for hospitalized patients, and in case of severe hypoxemia (not attaining SpO2 of > 88% with reservoir mask), corticosteroid was given).

Data collection

Following Clinical data were collected in the specific forms for each patient, including: (a) demographics information: (age and sex); (b) vital signs: temperature (T-Celsius), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), respiratory rate (RR per minute), and pulse rate (PR per minute); (c) symptoms: myalgia, generalized weakness, fever, chills, headache, chest pain, dyspnea, sore throat, cough, sputum, loss of appetite, loss of taste, anosmia; (d) comorbidities: hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM); (e) laboratory data: white blood cell (WBC-cell/mm3), lymphocyte count (cell/mm3), platelet(cell/mm3), C-reactive protein (CRP-mg/L), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR-mm/hr), and lactate dehydrogenase (units/L); (f) admission status: inpatient or outpatient; (g) Intensive care unit (ICU) admission; (h) death; (i) radiologic findings (will be mentioned in following section); (j) length of hospitalization (day) and recovery time (day). The recovery time was defined as the patient's subjective statement indicating no symptoms other than his/her baseline.

Chest CT protocols and interpretation

All chest CT scans were performed on either lightspeed 64-detector CT (GE Healthcare) or the 16-slice (Siemens SOMATOM Emotion) MDCT scanner with patients in the supine position at full inspiration breath-hold. The leading scanning parameters were as follows: 120 kVp tube voltage; 50–150 mAs tube current; 0.75 s tube rotation time; 0.5–0.75 s gantry rotation time; 2–3-mm section thickness; and 0.6–2 mm beam collimation.

The visual chest CT interpretation was performed using a single, experienced (10 years) thoracic radiologist. The radiologist was blinded to clinical and laboratory data of participants and reviewed on both lung and mediastinal window settings. The presence of CT features including (a) predominant pattern of lesions: ground-glass opacification (GGO), consolidation, or mixed GGO and consolidation; (b) dominant distribution of lesions: central, peripheral, diffuse, or peri- broncho vascular; (c) shape of lesions: round, elongated, wedged, or confluent; (d) additional findings: crazy paving pattern, reverse-halo sign, interlobular septal thickening, linear opacities combined, air bronchogram sign, tree in bud, adjacent pleural thickening, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, lymphadenopathy, and pulmonary emphysema, was reported as defined in Fleischner Society Glossary of terms for Thoracic Imaging (17).

To quantify the extension of lung lesions, a scoring system as follows was used: each of the five lobes of lungs visually scored from 0 to 5 (0, no involvement; 1, < 5% involvement; 2, 5–25% involvement; 3, 26–49% involvement; 4, 50–75% involvement; 5, > 75% involvement). Then, the total chest CT score was calculated by the sum of each lob's scores, ranging from 0 to 25 (18).

Statistical analysis

The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL). Continuous variables were presented as mean (standard deviation), and categorical variables as frequency and percentages. Variables were tested for normality using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Normally distributed continuous variables were analyzed using the independent sample t-test; otherwise, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. A Chi-square test was employed for nominal variables. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Participant’s characteristic

A total of 478 participants were recruited in the current study with convenient sampling. Of those, 353 (73.6%) participants were admitted to the hospital, and among hospitalized participants, 57 (11.9%) were admitted to ICU. The patient's mean age was 53.92 (15.4), and 267 (55.8%) was male. The most common complaints of patients were myalgia (60.3%), fever (59.3%), dyspnea (57.8%), chills (49.5%), and generalized weakness (45.3%). Demographics, initial signs, symptoms, and laboratory data of all participants are listed (Table 1).

Table 1

detail of demographic data and baseline signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings of all studied participants
Variables		All patients N = 478
Demographics
Age, years <39 39–49 50–59 60–69 ≥70		53.92(15.4) 90 (18.8%) 102 (21.3%) 104 (21.7%) 98 (20.5%) 84 (17.5%)
Gender (male)		267 (55.7%)
Symptoms on the first visit
Myalgia		289 (60.3%)
Generalized weakness		217 (45.3%)
Fever		284 (59.3%)
Chills		237 (49.5%)
Headache		134 (28%)
Chest pain		126 (26.3%)
Dyspnea		277 (57.8%)
Sore throat		80 (16.7%)
Cough		334 (69.7%)
Sputum		15 (3.1%)
Loss of appetite		194 (40.5%)
Loss of taste		48 (10%)
Anosmia		60 (12.5%)
Vital signs on first visit
Temperature (^o C)
	≤ 37.2	212 (44.3%)
	≥ 37.3	266 (55.7%)
O2 saturation %
	≥ 93	276 (57.7%)
	< 93	202 (42.3%)
Respiratory rate (breaths/ minute)
	< 25	389 (81.3%)
	≥ 25	89 (18.7%)
Initial laboratory findings
White Blood Cell (WBC) (cell/ mm3)
	< 4000	51 (10.6%)
	4000–9999	364 (76.3%)
	≥ 10000	63 (13.1%)
Lymphocyte count (cell/ mm3)
	≤ 1000	103 (21.5%)
	> 1000	375 (78.5%)
Platelet (cell/mm3)
	< 150000	82 (17.1%)
	≥ 150000	396 (82.9%)
C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/L)
	≤ 90	17 (3.5%)
	≥ 91	461 (96.5%)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (mm/hr)
	≤ 60	13 (2.7%)
	≥ 61	465 (97.3%)
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (units/L)
	< 480	65 (13.5%)
	≥ 480	413 (86.5%)
All variables are reported as N (%).

Chest CT scan findings

The most common patterns of pulmonary involvement were GGO (58.5%) and consolidation 99 (20.7%) with peri-broncho-vascular (33.7%), peripheral (33%), and diffuse (32%) distribution, and the most common shape of lesions were confluent (47.2%). Detailed chest CT scan findings are presented (Table 2).

Table 2

Radiological findings in all studied participants
Variables			All patients N = 478
Pulmonary involvement scores *
	RUL Total Score		1.57 (1.75)
	RML Total Score		1.26 (1.71)
	RLL Total Score		1.91 (1.84)
	LUL Total Score		1.56 (1.72)
	LLL Total Score		1.79 (1.84)
	Total PI Score		8.11 (8.08)
Frequency of lobe involvement
	RUL		266 (55.5%)
	RML		225 (47%)
	RLL		304 (63.5%)
	LUL		274 (57.3%)
	LLL		287 (60%)
Laterality of lung involvement
	Unilateral		52 (10.8%)
	Bilateral		286 (59.8)
Pattern of lesions
	GGO		280 (58.5%)
	Consolidation		99 (20.7%)
	Mixed GGO and consolidation		78(16.3%)
Dominant Distribution of Lesions
	Peripheral		158 (33%)
	Central		6 (1.3%)
	Diffuse		153 (32%)
	Peri broncho vascular		161 (33.7%)
Shape of lesions
	Round		73 (15.2%)
	Elongated		82 (17.1%)
	Wedged		183 (38.2%)
	Confluent		226 (47.2%)
Additional findings
	Crazy paving pattern		87 (31%)
	Reverse-halo		14 (2.9%)
	Interlobular septal thickening		20 (4.1%)
	Linear opacities combined		81 (16.9%)
	Air bronchogram sign		114 (23.8%)
	Tree in bud		15 (3.1%)
	Adjacent pleura thickening		15 (3.1%)
	Pleural effusion		27 (5.6%)
		Unilateral	12 (2.5%)
		Bilateral	15 (3.1%)
	pericardial effusion		10 (2%)
	lymphadenopathy		7 (1.4%)
	pulmonary emphysema		10 (2%)
reported as mean (standard deviation), all other variables reported as N (%).

Our results showed that the total chest CT score was significantly higher in patients with anosmia (mean of 12.46 ± 7.73 vs. 8.73 ± 8.33; P = 0.01), and had a significant positive association with RR with a cut point of 25 (mean of 8.37 ± 7.94 vs. 12.37 ± 9.23; P = 0.001), CRP with a cut point of 90 (mean of 7.82 ± 7.89 vs. 10.83 ± 8.67; P = 0.002), WBC with a cut point of 10000 (mean of 8.70 ± 8.33 vs. 12.02 ± 8.17; P = 0.009) and negative association with SpO2 with a cut point of 93 (mean of 9.75 ± 8.54 vs. 7.76 ± 7.58; P = 0.04). Chest CT score was also associated with a higher risk of ICU admission (mean of 11.10 ± 9 vs. 7.71 ± 7.88; P = 0.003), longer hospital stay (mean of 9.08 ± 8.23 vs. 12 ± 9.21; P = 0.037 ) and recovery period (mean of 7.28 ± 8.02 vs. 9.29 ± 8.09; P = 0.009) (Table 3).

Table 3

Demographic, clinical, laboratory findings, and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 based on the total chest CT scan score
Variables		Total CT score Mean ± SD	P-value
Demographic data
Age (years)
	< 39	10.47 ± 8.02	0.54
	39–49	8.15 ± 8.19
	50–59	9.96 ± 9.03
	60–69	9.57 ± 8.23
	≥ 70	8.44 ± 8.04
Sex
	Male	7.70 ± 7.84	0.193
	Female	8.67 ± 8.37	0.193
Symptoms on first visit
Fever
	Yes	9.06 ± 8.25	0.78
	No	9.34 ± 8.53	0.78
Dyspnea
	Yes	9.56 ± 8.58	0.20
	No	8.38 ± 7.82	0.20
Sputum
	Yes	9.64 ± 9.70	0.87
	No	9.14 ± 8.30	0.87
Cough
	Yes	9.10 ± 8.20	0.85
	No	9.29 ± 8.68	0.85
Chest pain
	Yes	9.42 ± 8.08	0.74
	no	9.07 ± 8.43	0.74
Anosmia
	Yes	12.46 ± 7.73	0.01*
	No	8.73 ± 8.33	0.01*
Vital signs on first visit
Temperature (^o C)
	≤ 37.2	9.00 ± 8.37	0.76
	≥ 37.3	9.28 ± 8.35	0.76
Respiratory rate(breath / minute)
	< 25	8.37 ± 7.94	0.001*
	≥ 25	12.37 ± 9.23	0.001*
SpO2 %
	≥ 93	7.76 ± 7.58	0.04*
	< 93	9.75 ± 8.54	0.04*
Initial laboratory findings
WBC (cell/ mm3)
	≤ 10000	8.70 ± 8.33	0.009*
	> 10000	12.02 ± 8.17	0.009*
Lymphocyte count(cell/ mm3)
	≤ 1000	9.77 ± 8.88	0.42
	> 1000	8.91 ± 8.07	0.42
CRP (mg/L)
	≤ 90	7.82 ± 7.89	0.002^*
	≥ 91	10.83 ± 8.67	0.002^*
ESR(mm/hr)
	≤ 60	8.24 ± 8.45	0.10
	≥ 61	10.05 ± 8.54	0.10
LDH (units/L)
	< 480	9.02 ± 7.92	0.12
	≥ 480	11.02 ± 8.64	0.12
Underlying disease
DM
	Yes	8.54 ± 8.10	0.35
	No	9.42 ± 8.45
HTN
	Yes	9.11 ± 8.30	0.92
	No	9.22 ± 8.36	0.92
Outcomes
ICU admission
	Yes	11.10 ± 9	0.003*
	No	7.71 ± 7.88	0.003*
Recovery time (days)
	< 15	7.28 ± 8.02	0.009*
	≥ 15	9.29 ± 8.09	0.009*
Hospitalization time (days)
	< 15	9.08 ± 8.23	0.037*
	≥ 15	12 ± 9.21	0.037*
Death
	Yes	8.51 ± 1.85	0.86
	No	8.05 ± 0.37	0.86
*: statistically significant (p – value < 0.05) HTN: hypertension, DM: diabetes mellitus, SpO2: oxygen saturation, WBC: white blood cell, LDH: lactate dehydrogenase, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ICU: intensive care unit

Further analysis showed consolidation on chest CT scan had a significant association with initial lower SpO2 (P = 0.001), higher risk of ICU admission (P = 0.005), extended hospitalization (P = 0.003), and longer recovery time (P = 0.008) (Table 4).

Table 4

Details of demographic and clinical data of patients with or without consolidation
Variables				All patients N = 478	With consolidation N = 99	Without consolidation N = 379	P-value
Demographic Data
	Age			53.92(15.4)	51.96(15.6)	54.62 (15.6)	0.14
	Gender
		Male		267 (55.8%)	55 (11.5%)	212 (44.3%)	0.94
		Female		211 (44.2%)	44 (20.8%)	167 (23.4%)	0.94
Clinical data
	Temperature (^o C)			37.49 (0.7)	37.56 (0.7)	37.47 (0.7)	0.29
	Respiratory rate (breath /per minute)			21.65 (5.1)	22.18 (6)	21.41 (4.9)	0.19
	SpO2			91.07 (5.4)	89.39 (6.4)	91.47 (5.3)	0.001*
	WBC (cell/mm3)			7.74 (5.1)	7.88 (5.6)	7.29 (4.2)	0.32
	Lymphocyte count(cell/mm3)			1372.8 (1341.3)	1375.5(1876.5)	1279 (870)	0.56
	LDH (U/L)			640.8 (302.4)	624.6 (266.4)	630.1 (302.4)	0.90
	CRP (mg/L)			96.90 (76.2)	105.97 (69.6)	90.82 (77)	0.13
	ESR (mm/hr)			74.06 (32.2)	77.34 (33.3)	71.23 (31.2)	0.16
	Underlying disease
			DM	132(27.6%)	26 (5.4%)	106 (22.2%)	0.73
			HTN	136 (28.4%)	23 (4.8%)	113 (23.6%)	0.18
	Recovery time (days)			15.48 (8.3)	17.46 (9)	14.95 (8.1)	0.008*
	Hospitalization duration (days)			6.89 (7.2)	8.97 (9.4)	6.25 (6.2)	0.003*
	ICU admission			297 (62.1%)	79 (16.5%)	218 (45.6%)	0.005*
	Death			16 (3.3%)	4 (0.8%)	12 (2.5%)	0.70
*: statistically significant (p-value < 0.05), reported as mean (standard deviation), all other variables reported as N (%). HTN: hypertension, DM: diabetes mellitus, SpO2: oxygen saturation, WBC: white blood cell, LDH: lactate dehydrogenase, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ICU: intensive care unit

As treatment protocols are based on the extent of lung involvement, assessing the severity of pulmonary involvement is crucial in determining the treatment plan for COVID-19 infected patients. Chest CT scan is not available everywhere, and its usage is sometimes limited, especially in pregnant patients. Therefore, physicians need prompt assessment according to patient’s initial signs and symptoms and routine laboratory tests for timely management. In the current study, we assessed clinical and laboratory findings on the first visit to predict the extent of lung involvement in COVID-19 patients. We found that patients with anosmia, lower SpO2 (< 93), and higher respiratory rate (> 25 per minute), WBC count (> 10,000 cells/mm3), CRP (> 90 mg/Liter) had higher total CT scores. Besides, consolidation opacities as the worst lung lesions were more commonly detected in patients with lower initial SpO2 or admitted to ICU. Moreover, patients with consolidation on their chest CT scan experienced extended hospitalization (≥ 15) and recovery period (≥ 15). A higher chest CT score was also associated with more extended hospitalization and recovery time.

Predictors of severe lung involvement

In line with previous studies, our results showed that higher initial WBC and CRP are associated with more severe cases of COVID-19 patients, as WBC > 1000 cell/mm3 and CRP > 90 mg/L were associated with higher chest CT scores. Similar to our findings, Salvatore et al. reported hospitalized and critical COVID-19 patients had higher CRP, leukocyte count, neutrophils, LDH, D-dimer, and troponin (19). Zhang et al. also reported that chest CT score positively associated with WBC count, CRP, ESR, procalcitonin, and abnormal coagulation function (20).

Among several clinical symptoms on the first visit, just anosmia was associated with extended pulmonary involvement. A literature review did not show any previous report of extended lung involvement in patients with anosmia, and our study is the first to report this correlation. Association of anosmia and pulmonary involvement can be justified by the roll of CXCL10 chemokine, as previous reports defined CXCL10 contribution in both cytokine storm of COVID-19 patients causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and demyelination process of the olfactory nerve causing anosmia(21).

Several clinical signs of patients on the first visit, including higher RR and lower SpO2, were associated with higher total chest CT scores. Lower SpO2 was also associated with consolidation opacities as the most severe lesion of COVID-19 in chest CT scan. In line with our findings, Kunwei Li et al. also showed that patients with RR ≥ 30 times/min, and SpO2 ≤ 93% as categorized in severe type patients, had significantly higher total chest CT scores than common type patients(22). Another study also confirmed that severe/critical patients with respiratory rate ≥ 30 times/min and SpO2 of 93% or less in a resting state had higher total CT scores than ordinary COVID-19 patients (23). Aalinezhad (24) and Osman(25) et al. also reported higher chest CT score is inversely associated with O2 saturation. Furthermore, a multicenter cohort study demonstrated that consolidation in upper lungs on the initial chest CT of COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of adverse endpoints, including SpO2 < 93% and partial arterial pressure of oxygen less than 60 mm Hg on room air(26).

Chest CT predictors of unfavorable outcomes

We found that ICU admission, more extended hospitalization, and recovery period were associated with higher total CT scores and consolidation opacities in chest CT of these patients. Similarly, a previous study showed a higher pulmonary score ≥ of 8 accompanied by age ≥ 53, and SpO₂ ≤ 91 predicts ICU admission and mortality (27). Deepak Nagra et al. also reported a higher lung opacification score is a reliable predictor of ICU admission for COVID-19 patients (28). Another study on baseline chest CT scans and clinical and laboratory data of 72 patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia showed lung severity score > 4 was associated with a significantly lower recovery rate and discharge and extended hospitalization in patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia (29). Similar to our findings, Ahlstrand et al. previously reported that chest CT score at hospital admission correlates closely with hospital length of stay and ICU admission (30). CT severity score combined with age and history of at least one underlying disease had 79.7% sensitivity and 65.5% specificity in predicting the adverse outcomes in a previous study (31).

Initial assessment of patients in the clinic determines the treatment plan, so we assessed lung involvement based on initial signs, symptoms, and laboratory tests. Taken together, we found that patients with anosmia, higher respiratory rate, WBC count, or CRP, and lower SpO2 had extended pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 pneumonia, which can cause adverse outcomes, including more extended hospitalization and recovery period. Hence, those patients should be prioritized for greater attention and intensive care.

Limitations

As recovery time was defined as a subjective statement of patients, this could have resulted in a conclusion error; inviting the patients to the clinic for evaluation could have been more precise to confirm recovery. In addition, in this study, we assessed just the presence of symptoms, not their severity; we recommend further studies assessing the severity of symptoms and their correlation with lung involvement or adverse outcomes.

Extended lung involvement of COVID-19 pneumonia can be predicted in clinics with patient's initial symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory tests, including anosmia, low SpO2, high RR, WBC, and CRP. Therefore, these patients should be considered high-risk patients for further medical planning.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2)

angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)

computed tomography(CT)

Ground Glass Opacity (GGO)

real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

oxygen saturation (SpO₂)

respiratory rate (RR)

pulse rate (PR)

hypertension (HTN)

diabetes mellitus (DM)

white Blood Cell (WBC)

C-reactive protein (CRP)

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)

Intensive care unit (ICU)

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Ethics approval and consent to participate: Study protocols and patients consent forms were reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (approval code: TUMS.VCR.REC.1399.138). All patients signed an informed consent form before entering the study.

Consent for publication: Not applicable.

Availability of data and materials: The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Competeing interest: The authors declare no competing interest.

Funding: This work was supported by a grant from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Grant no: 47147), the fund is used for laboratory and imaging costs of patients.

Authors’s contribution:

NAY Conceptualized the project and developed the study methodology and also had the major role in investigation of radiological findings of patients and meanwhile Review & Editing the manuscript

AHG developed the study methodology and conducted formal analysis meanwhile participated in writing the original draft.

SS participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

FJ participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

SJ participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

MH participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

HEK participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

MS participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

SADM participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

MM participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

MHajiabdolbaghi participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

ZA participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

HK participated in Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Validation, Review & Editing the manuscript

MMM developed the study methodology and conducted formal analysis meanwhile participated in writing the original draft.

LA was Project administrative and supervisor and acquired the funding for project and meanwhile she participated in writing and editing the manuscript.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank all participants in this study.

Supplementary material: Not applicable

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Predictors of The Chest CT Score in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Journal Publication

Version 1

Abstract

Background

Method

Study design and participants

Data collection

Chest CT protocols and interpretation

Statistical analysis

Results

Participant’s characteristic

Chest CT scan findings

Discussion

Predictors of severe lung involvement

Chest CT predictors of unfavorable outcomes

Limitations

Conclusion

Abbreviations

Declarations

References

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1