Predictive Value of Initial CT scan for Various Adverse Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia

Khosravi, Bardia; Aghaghazvini, Leila; Sorouri, Majid; Atashi, Sara Naybandi; Abdollahi, Mohammad; Mojtabavi, Helia; Khodabakhshi, Marjan; Motamedi, Fatemeh; Azizi, Fatemeh; Rajabi, Zeynab; Kasaeian, Amir; Sima, Ali Reza; Davarpanah, Amir H.; Radmard, Amir Reza

BACKGROUND: Chest computed tomography (CT) scan is frequently used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the predictive value of CT severity score (CSS) for length-of-stay (LOS) in hospital, initial disease severity, ICU admission, intubation, and mortality. METHODS: In this retrospective study, initial CT scans of consecutively admitted patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were reviewed in a tertiary hospital. The association of CSS with the severity of disease upon admission and the final adverse outcomes was assessed using Pearson's correlation test and logistic regression, respectively. RESULTS: Total of 121 patients (60±16 years), including 54 women and 67 men, with positive RT-PCR tests were enrolled. We found a significant but weak correlation between CSS and qSOFA, as a measure of disease severity (r: 0.261, p= 0.003). No significant association was demonstrated between CSS and LOS. Patients with CSS>8 had at least three-fold higher risk of ICU admission, intubation, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: CSS in baseline CT scan of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia can predict adverse outcomes and is weakly correlated with initial disease severity.