Longitudinal assessment of chest computerized tomography and oxygen saturation for patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background COVID-19 is a pandemic disease and is important to know the nature of the disease during follow-up. We aimed to study different imaging signs and changes that occurred during the initial scan, follow-up, and complications. Moreover, to study the CT severity score and its relation to the patients’ clinical condition using oxygen saturation as a parameter. This was a retrospective study conducted on 125 patients, including 293 CT studies, from March till the end of August 2020. The mean age was 47.4 ± 15.7 years and 64.8% of the patients were males. All patients proved to have COVID-19 by the RT-PCR test. The CT studies of the patients were divided into four stages according to the timing after the onset of symptoms. The incidence of different CT features, patterns, complications, CT severity score, and oxygen saturation were recorded in different stages. Results During follow-up studies, GGOs were the most constant and common CT features. Consolidation and crazy paving showed gradual progression to reach the peak at the 3rd stage. Mixed attenuation pattern was the commonest pattern at the 3rd stage while a pure GGO pattern was the commonest feature in other stages. The complications occurred mostly in the 3rd stage. Nevertheless, the CT severity score showed an inverse relation with oxygen saturation. Conclusion Radiological evaluation of COVID-19 pneumonia showed gradual progression till the peak critical stage at 8-14 days from the onset of symptoms. Consolidation and mixed attenuation pattern can be considered as CT signs of disease severity.

Predictors of the chest CT score in COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study

“…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 ].…”

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Ivermectin Monotherapy versus Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, and Azithromycin Combination Therapy in COVID- 19 Patients in Nigeria

“…In addition, Osman, et al and Annunziata, et al have documented changes in SpO 2 in non-ivermectin treated COVID-10 patients [24,25]. These two studies show unequivocally that there is an initial dip in SpO 2 towards day 8 before a recovery towards day 14.…”

COVID-19 in Egypt after a year: the first and second pandemic waves from the radiological point of view; multi-center comparative study on 2000 patients

“…This coincided with the higher rates of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary comorbidities or complications in addition to the increased prevalence of five CT findings of severity, including the “crazy-paving” pattern, “air-bubble” sign, significant mediastinal nodal enlargement, pericardial effusion, and spontaneous pneumo-mediastinum. Previous studies described the “crazy-paving” pattern in 100% of their severe patients, including Ali TF et al [ 22 ], Ghweil AA et al [ 26 ], Metwally M.I et al [ 27 ], and Osman AM et al [ 28 ]. Additionally, Li Y et al [ 29 ] correlated the presence of pericardial effusion to the high clinical severity.…”