Radiomorphological signs and clinical severity of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to assess the differences in the severity and chest-computed tomography (CT) radio-morphological signs of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 variants. Methods: We collected clinical data of consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and chest-CT imaging who were admitted to the Emergency Department between first September – 13th November 2020 (non-B.1.1.7 cases) and first March – 18th March 2021 (B.1.1.7 cases). We also examined the differences in the severity and radio-morphological features associated with COVID-19 pneumonia. Total pneumonia burden (%), mean attenuation of ground-glass opacities (GGO) and consolidation were quantified using deep-learning research software. Results: The final population comprised 500 B.1.1.7 and 500 non-B.1.1.7 cases. Patients with B.1.1.7 infection were younger (58.5 ± 15.6 vs 64.8 ± 17.3; p < .001) and had less comorbidities. Total pneumonia burden was higher in the B.1.1.7 patient group (16.1% [IQR:6.0–34.2%] vs 6.6% [IQR:1.2–18.3%]; p < .001). In the age-specific analysis, in patients < 60 years B.1.1.7 pneumonia had increased consolidation burden (0.1% [IQR:0.0–0.7%] vs 0.1% [IQR:0.0–0.2%]; p < .001), and severe COVID-19 was more prevalent (11.5% vs 4.9%; p = .032). Mortality rate was similar in all age groups. Conclusions: Despite B.1.1.7 patients were younger and had fewer comorbidities, they experienced more severe disease than non-B.1.1.7 patients, however the risk of death was the same between the two groups. Advances in knowledge: Our study provides data on deep-learning based quantitative lung lesion burden and clinical outcomes of patients infected by B.1.1.7 VOC. Our findings might serve as a model for later investigations, as new variants are emerging across the globe.

Morphological appearance of the B.1.1.7 mutation of the novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in chest CT

“…variants with non-B.1.1.7. variants and basically came to the same conclusion as the current investigation ( 38 ). A slightly different result, however, is that the B1.1.7.…”

“…Because COVID-19 CT morphology is stage-specific and the features measured depend on the time elapsed since the onset of infection, we recommend strict matching between the variant and the comparison collective. In addition, the above study did not apply matching with respect to sex and age; in respect of age, there was even a significant difference between the two comparison groups ( 38 ).…”

“…variant shows a greater lateralization. This slightly different result may be due to the fact that the duration of symptom onset for CT imaging is not matched between the groups, so that a homogeneous comparison is not possible ( 38 ). Because COVID-19 CT morphology is stage-specific and the features measured depend on the time elapsed since the onset of infection, we recommend strict matching between the variant and the comparison collective.…”