Clinical and CT scan findings in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a comparison based on disease severity

ABSTRACT

Background The SARS-CoV-2 can cause severe pneumonia and highly impact general health. We aimed to investigate different clinical features and CT scan findings of patients with COVID-19 based on disease severity to have a better understanding of this disease. Methods Ninety patients with coronavirus were divided into three categories based on the severity of the disease mild/moderate, severe, and very severe. Clinical, laboratory, and CT scan findings of the patients were examined retrospectively. Any association between these features and disease severity was assessed. Results The mean age and duration of hospitalization of patients increased with increasing the severity of the disease. The most common clinical symptoms were shortness of breath, cough, and fever. As the severity of the disease increased from mild/moderate to very severe, there was an increase in neutrophil counts and a decrease in lymphocytes and white blood cells (WBC) showing excessive inflammation associated with severe forms of COVID-19. Subpleural changes (81%) and ground-glass opacification/opacity (GGO) lesions (73%) of the lung were the most common features in CT images of COVID-19 patients, and interlobular septal thickening (10%) was the lowest CT feature among patients. Regarding the affected parts of the lung in COVID-19 patients, bilateral, peripheral, and multiple lesions had the highest prevalence. Conclusions It has been shown that clinical, laboratory, and CT scan findings varied in COVID-19 patients based on disease severity, which need to be considered carefully in timely diagnosis and treatment of this illness.