CT findings in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 and clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been diagnosed with computed tomography (CT). A prognostic tool based on CT findings could be useful for predicting death from COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To compare the chest CT findings of patients who survived COVID-19 versus those of patients who died of COVID-19 and to determine the usefulness the clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system for COVID-19. METHODS: We included 124 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections who were hospitalized between April 1, 2020 and July 25, 2020. RESULTS: Whereas ground-glass opacities were the most common characteristic finding in survivors (75%), crazy paving was the most characteristic finding in non-survivors (65%). Atypical findings were present in 46% of patients. The chest CT score was directly proportional to mortality; a score ≥18 was the best cutoff for predicting death, yielding 70% sensitivity (95%CI 47%-87%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that atypical lesions are more prevalent in this cohort. The chest CT score had high sensitivity for predicting hospital mortality.