Chest Computed Tomography Scoring in Patients With Novel Coronavirus-infected Pneumonia: Correlation With Clinical and Laboratory Features and Disease Outcome.

Pugliese, Luca; Sbordone, Francesco Paolo; Grimaldi, Francesco; Ricci, Francesca; DI Tosto, Federica; Spiritigliozzi, Luigi; DI Donna, Carlo; Presicce, Matteo; DE Stasio, Vincenzo; Benelli, Leonardo; D'Errico, Francesca; Pasqualetto, Monia; Legramante, Jacopo Maria; Materazzo, Marco; Pellicciaro, Marco; Buonomo, Oreste Claudio; Vanni, Gianluca; Rizza, Stefano; Bellia, Alfonso; Floris, Roberto; Garaci, Francesco; Chiocchi, Marcello

BACKGROUND/AIM This study investigated the correlation of chest computed tomography (CT), findings, graded using two different scoring methods, with clinical and laboratory features and disease outcome, including a novel clinical predictive score, in patients with novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this retrospective, observational study, CT scan of 92 NCIP patients admitted to Policlinico Tor Vergata, were analyzed using a quantitative, computed-based and a semiquantitative, radiologist-assessed scoring system. Correlations of the two radiological scores with clinical and laboratory features, the CALL score, and their association with a composite adverse outcome were assessed. RESULTS The two scores correlated significantly with each other (ρ=0.637, p<0.0001) and were independently associated with age, LDH, estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, and with the composite outcome, which occurred in 24 patients. CONCLUSION In NCIP patients, two different radiological scores correlated with each other and with several clinical, laboratory features, and the CALL score. The quantitative score was a better independent predictor of the composite adverse outcome than the semiquantitative score.