Comparison of Thorax Computed Tomography Based Body Composition Parameters Between COVID-19 Positive and Negative Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare body fat-muscle and visceral obesity indices that can be measured with thorax computed tomography (CT) between reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive and negative patients. Material(s) and Method(s) This ret-rospective, comparative study included 141 PCR (+) and 150 PCR (-) patients who applied to our hospital with flu-like symptoms without having the comorbid diseases and undergone thoracic CT between April 1, 2020-July 1, 2020. For the each patient, the ratio of thoracic subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness to pectoralis major muscle thickness (TSAT/PMJ), epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EAT), liver density (LD), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness to psoas major muscle thickness ratio (ASAT/ PSM), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue thickness to erector spinae muscle thickness ratio (ASAT/ESM) was measured. The comparison was made between the subgroups in terms of age, gender, and measured parameters. Result(s) Statistically significant difference was found between PCR (+) and (-) individuals in terms of EAT mean (p<0.05). TSAT/PMJ, ASAT/PSM and ASAT/ESM ratios were higher in women (p <0.05). The mean EAT in men was increased in the PCR (+) group (p<0.05). In PCR (+) group, LD decreased, EAT increased with increasing age (p<0.05). PCR (+) and PCR (-) groups didn't show significant difference (p>0.05) in terms of TSAT/PMJ, ASAT/PSM, LD, ASAT/ESM. Conclusion(s) Higher EAT values can increase the risk of getting coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. Peripheral fat-muscle indices don't increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection.Copyright © 2023 by Turkiye Klinikleri.