Predictive value of initial CT scan for various adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Chest computed tomography (CT) scan is frequently used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.

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.

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.

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.

CSS in baseline CT scan of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia can predict adverse outcomes and is weakly correlated with initial disease severity.