Impact of Thymic Response in COVID-19 Pneumonia on Disease Severity and Mortality-As Assessed on CT-Chest
Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal
; 73(2):527, 2023.
Article
in English
| ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2318812
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To determine the effect of thymic response to COVID-19 pneumonia on imaging and its impact on disease severity and outcome. StudyDesign:
Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study Armed Forces Institute of Radiology and Imaging (AFIRI), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar to Jul 2020.Methodology:
A total of 1620 COVID-19 patients above the age of 18, of either gender, were included in the study. Their findings on High-Resolution CT (HRCT) chest were recorded and graded according to the CT severity score (CTSS) out of a total of 40;less than or equal to 19 was taken as mild while >20 scores were considered as severe disease. The thymic response was assessed by imaging appearance on CT and was graded from 0-3 as follows fatty, predominantly fatty, mixed density (fat and soft density), and soft density. Fatty replacement implied thymic involution, while soft density depicted a reactivation of thymic tissue after a disease process depictive adequate thymic response.Results:
A significant difference in thymic response was observed in patients of different age groups (p<0.001), with the younger age group demonstrating thymic reactivation/ response in the majority (170/244, 69.7%). CT severity score and mortality were significantly higher in older patients demonstrating poor thymic response to COVID pneumonia.Conclusion:
Response of the thymus to acute viral infection by Sars COVID-19 is impaired as age progresses;this accounts for greater disease severity, morbidity and mortality in older patients.
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Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
ProQuest Central
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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