Automated processing of thermal imaging to detect COVID-19 and microvascular dysfunction

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with microvascular dysfunction. Non-invasive thermal imaging can hypothetically detect changes in perfusion, inflammation and vascular injury. We sought to develop a new point-of-care, non-contact thermal imaging tool to detect COVID-19 by microvascular dysfunction, based on image processing algorithms and machine learning analysis. Materials and methods: We captured thermal images of the back of 101 individuals, with (n=62) and without (n=39) COVID-19, using a portable thermal camera that connects directly to smartphones. We developed new image processing algorithms that automatically extract multiple texture and shape features of the thermal images (Figure 1A). We then evaluated the ability of our thermal features to detect COVID-19 and systemic changes of heat distribution associated with microvascular disease. We also assessed correlations between thermal imaging to conventional biomarkers and chest X-ray (CXR). Results: Our novel image processing algorithms achieved up to 92% sensitivity in detecting COVID-19 with an area under the curve of 0.85 (95% CI 0.78, 0.93;p<0.01). Systemic alterations in blood flow associated with vascular disease were observed across the entire back. Thermal imaging scores were inversely correlated with clinical variables associated with COVID-19 disease progression, including blood oxygen saturation, C-reactive protein, and D-dimer. The thermal imaging findings were not correlated with the results of CXR. Conclusions: We show, for the first time, that a hand-held thermal imaging device can be used to detect COVID-19. Non-invasive thermal imaging could be used to screen for COVID-19 in out-of-hospital settings, especially in low-income regions with limited imaging resources. Moreover, thermal imaging might detect micro-angiopathies and endothelial dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 and could possibly improve risk stratification of infected individuals (Figure 1B).