Could Chest Computed Tomography Scores Assess the Inflammatory Markers and Disease Severity of Coronavirus Disease-2019 Patients?

• Published in: Journal of academic research in medicine Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 62 - 68
• Main Authors: Kayadibi, Yasemin, Uçar, Neşe, Kaya, Mehmet Fatih, Gürkan, Okan, Namdar Akan, Yeşim, Demirok, Berna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul Galenos Publishing House 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; Correlation analysis; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Hospitals; Laboratories; Lymphocytes; Medical research; Neutrophils; Patients; Pleural effusion; Pneumonia; Respiratory system; China; Turkey
• ISSN: 2146-6505; 2147-1894
• DOI: 10.4274/jarem.galenos.2021.3803

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chest computed tomography (CT) scores and inflammatory markers in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A total of 259 patients who were confirmed to be COVID-19 positive with polymerase chain reaction test and CT findings, between 20 March and 30 May 2020, were included in our study. The patients were divided into two groups as critical and moderate according to their clinical conditions. CT findings, complete blood account and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded and statistically analysed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted in terms of CT scores, white blood cells, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and CRP for the patients in the moderate and critical groups. Results: CT scores (p<0.001), neutrophil counts (p<0.001), NLR (p<0.001) and CRP values (p<0.001) were significantly higher in the critical group than in the moderate group, whereas the lymphocyte count (p<0.001) and haemoglobin values (p=0.003) were significantly lower. In the ROC curve analysis, when the cut-off value was set at 6.5 to differentiate the moderate and critical groups, the CT score sensitivity was 0.86, specificity 0.809, area under the curve 0.899 and accuracy 0.81. Conclusion: There is a correlation between CT scores and NLR. It is crucial to differentiate patients in critical and moderate conditions for the treatment planning of COVID-19. In addition to clinical findings and inflammatory markers, radiological imaging is an effective method to identify patients and determine the prognosis.