Clinical severity and high-resolution CT severity score in COVID-19: Is there an association.

Objectives: To identify a correlation between the clinical parameters and CT chest severity score in COVID-19. Methods: A total of 205 RT-PCR positive patients were included in this descriptive cross-sectional study with convenience sampling from November 2020 to June 2021 in KRL Hospital. The study population was stratified in disease severity as per the WHO's guidelines. Clinical and radiological characteristics were compared in survivors and non survivors to draw conclusion. Results: The mean age was 57 years and the majority of the patients 57% were male. Overall mortality was 22% and the mean CT severity score was 18. Non survivors were more tachypneic, hypoxic, had a higher CT chest severity score, higher clinical severity, more comorbid condition and higher TLC, D-Dimers, LDH, CRP, NLR. Raised CT severity score showed a conclusive correlation with greater disease severity. One way ANOVA showed a significant difference between mean CT severity score amongst different disease categories. Conclusion: Higher CT severity score corresponds to a higher clinical severity and higher chances of mortality.

Predictors of Mortality in COVID-19 patients: An observational study.

Objectives: To identify the factors that affect outcome in COVID-19 patients in the Pakistani population. Methods: A total of 225 patients of COVID-19 RT-PCR proven were included during November, 2020 to June, 2021 in this cross-sectional study. They were stratified into different disease severity categories as per WHO guidelines. The characteristics of survivors and non survivors were recorded and then compared to draw conclusions. Results: Mean age was 59 years. Majority of the patients were male (68%) and the overall mortality rate was 30.1%. The non survivors were more likely to be female, had a greater number of comorbidities, had a higher respiratory rate and lower oxygen saturations at presentation and had a greater frequency of invasive mechanical ventilation. Non survivors had higher values of TLC, CRP, D-dimers and lower values of Hemoglobin and Platelets. The non survivors had higher incidence of ARDS, Septic shock and Multiorgan involvement. A higher CURB-65 score was observed in non survivors as compared to those who survived. Multivariate analysis showed that female gender, presence of and higher number of comorbid conditions and a higher CURB-65 score was linked with mortality. Conclusion: Results are compatible with international studies; increasing age, number of comorbid conditions and high inflammatory markers are associated with increased mortality. Our study had an exception that female gender had higher mortality as compared to men.