Evaluation of abdominal computed tomography findings in patients with COVID-19: a multicenter study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and interrogate the relationship between abdominal CT findings and patient demographic features, clinical findings, and laboratory test results as well as the CT atherosclerosis score in the abdominal aorta. METHODS: This study was designed as a multicenter retrospective study. The abdominal CT findings of 1.181 patients with positive abdominal symptoms from 26 tertiary medical centers with a positive polymerase chain-reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were reviewed. The frequency of ischemic and non-ischemic CT findings as well as the association between CT findings, clinical features, and abdominal aortic calcific atherosclerosis score (AA-CAS) were recorded. RESULTS: Ischemic and non-ischemic abdominal CT findings were detected in 240 (20.3%) and 328 (27.7%) patients, respectively. In 147 patients (12.4%), intra-abdominal malignancy was present. The most frequent ischemic abdominal CT findings were bowel wall thickening (n = 120; 10.2%) and perivascular infiltration (n = 40; 3.4%). As for non-ischemic findings, colitis (n = 91; 7.7%) and small bowel inflammation (n = 73; 6.2%) constituted the most frequent disease processes. The duration of hospital stay was found to be higher in patients with abdominal CT findings than in patients without any positive findings (13.8 ± 13 vs. 10.4 ± 12.8 days, P < 0.001). The frequency of abdominal CT findings was significantly higher in patients who did not survive the infection than in patients who were discharged after recovery (41.7% vs. 27.4%, P < 0.001). Increased AA-CAS was found to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic conditions in abdominal CT examinations. CONCLUSION: Abdominal symptoms in patients with COVID-19 are usually associated with positive CT findings. The presence of ischemic findings on CT correlates with poor COVID-19 outcomes. A high AA-CAS is associated with abdominal ischemic findings in patients with COVID-19.

Contamination-Related Characteristics of Covid-19: A Household Survey (preprint)

Introduction Household transmission studies are suitable setting to examine determinants of disease by controlling many environmental variables. This study is a prospective, case-based study evaluating the household transmission and possible risk factors on the demographical, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and households. Material – Method Between 1 August 2021 and 1 February 2022, individuals who were RT-PCR positive and their household members were invited to the study. The standard protocol of the World Health Organization evaluating household transmission was used in the study. Swab samples were taken from contact individuals at the first and second visits and RT-PCR test was performed. A questionnaire form was applied to the individuals via telephone. Secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated to assess household transmission. Descriptive analyzes and Logistic Regression analyses were used in the study. Results 42 index cases and 112 contacts were involved in the study. 42.9% of index cases and 53.6% of contacts were women. The median age of index cases was 40.5 and contacts’ was 34.5 years. Secondary attack rate in the study was 25%. Contacts without symptoms of the index case (OR: 0.117, 95% CI 0.018-0.077), contacts with five or more people in the household (OR: 5.535, 95% CI 1.585-19.325), spouse or child of the index case (OR: 3.532, 95 %CI 1.066-11.710) have a higher risk of infection. Discussion Being spouse or child of index case, living in a crowded house and asymptomatic index case were risk factors of contagion. There could be increased risk due to close contact between index case and child or spouse. Living in crowded house was seen as the most important risk factor for infection transmission. Especially the restriction measures applied regarding staying at home may cause an increase in contagion in crowded and poorly ventilated houses. In order to prevent contagion, such measures as the use of masks in the house, frequent ventilation of the house, not eating in the same environment during the quarantine period should be shared with the public and policies should be developed in this direction.