Use of pulmonary ultrasound to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Manzur-Sandoval, Daniel; García-Cruz, Edgar; Gopar-Nieto, Rodrigo; Araiza-Garaygordobil, Diego; Maza, Arturo Garza-de la; Ramírez-Lara, Edith; Zebadua-Torres, Rodrigo; Barajas-Campos, Ricardo L; Rascón-Sabido, Rafael; Mendoza-Copa, Gastón; Chango-Criollo, Esteban I; Ramírez-Galindo, Gabriela; Rojas-Velasco, Gustavo

INTRODUCTION Lung ultrasound (LUS) implementation in patients with COVID-19 can help to establish the degree of pulmonary involvement, evaluate treatment response and estimate in-hospital outcome. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the application of a LUS protocol in patients with COVID-19 infection to predict in-hospital mortality. METHODS The study was carried out from April 1 to August 1, 2020 in patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Lung evaluation was carried out by physicians trained in critical care ultrasonography. RESULTS Most patients were males, median age was 56 years, and 59 % required mechanical ventilation. In-hospital mortality was 39.4 %, and in those with a LUS score ≥ 19, mortality was higher (50 %). The multiple logistic regression model showed that a LUS score ≥ 19 was significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio = 2.55, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS LUS is a safe and fast clinical tool that can be applied at bedside in patients with COVID-19 infection to establish the degree of parenchymal involvement and predict mortality.