COVID-19 pneumonia: relationship between initial chest X-rays and laboratory findings

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has necessitated rapid diagnostic and prognostic tools.
• Chest X-rays are frequently utilized for evaluating respiratory involvement in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze initial chest X-ray findings in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.
• To determine the relationship between the severity of chest X-ray findings and clinical/laboratory parameters.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of symptomatic adults with RT-PCR positive SARS-CoV-2.
• Evaluation of initial chest X-rays for ground-glass opacities, consolidations, linear opacities, and pleural effusion.
• Correlation with laboratory markers (leukocytes, lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein) and clinical data.

Main Results:

• 84% of 761 symptomatic patients required hospitalization.
• Increasing radiologic severity scores correlated with increased hospitalization rates.
• Lung involvement extent significantly associated with laboratory parameters (platelets, lymphocytes, CRP) and symptom onset time.

Conclusions:

• A radiologic severity scale for chest X-rays can aid in classifying COVID-19 patients.
• Greater radiologic severity predicts higher hospitalization need and more pronounced laboratory alterations.