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Objective: To determine the role of the serial portable chest X-ray in the diagnosis and quantification of patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Dow Institute of Radiology, Dow University of Health Sciences. Confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 from November 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively studied. Patients' demographics and clinical characteristics, chest X-ray findings, and outcomes were retrieved through electronic medical records. Baseline and final follow-up chest X-rays findings were compared by using chest X-ray severity score. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between patients' characteristics and patient outcomes. Results: The study included 329 patients with a mean age of 56.43 ± 13.10 years (range 16-85 years). Peripheral consolidation and ground glass opacities (89.4%) were the most common X-ray findings followed by bilateral lung involvement (79.0%) and perihilar consolidation/ground glass opacities (69.9%). Among the patients who were admitted, 61.4% were discharged, 49.5% had prolonged length of stay ≥10 days, and 37.7% died. After adjustment of all patients' characteristics, the multivariate model showed no significant difference in chest X-ray severity score in relation to the patient's outcome. Patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit, and received oxygen support, bilevel positive airway pressure, and a ventilator were significantly associated with the outcome of being discharged, prolonged hospital stay, and death. Conclusion: Peripheral consolidation and ground glass opacities were the most common chest X-ray findings in admitted COVID-19 patients. No significant difference in chest X-ray severity score was noted in the primary outcome of being discharged, prolonged hospital stay, and death. There is no requirement for daily chest X-rays in hospitalized patients until required in the condition of worsening symptoms or significant intervention such as endotracheal intubation.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of individuals 40-80 years old in Abu Dhabi, with a particular interest to explore local risk factors other than cigarette smoking. Airflow limitation compatible with COPD was defined as a post-bronchodilator ratio FEV(1)/FVC <0.70. RESULTS: From 520 participants surveyed (93.7% response rate), 55% male and with a mean age of 52 years, the prevalence of COPD was 3.7% and 95% C.I. (2.0-5.3). There were no differences by gender, and COPD prevalence only significantly increased in those 70 year and older. Among those with COPD, cigarette smoking use was relatively low (12% current- and 12% former-smokers), and it was even lower the use of shisha (5%), pipe (0%), or exposure to passive smoking (5%), while exposure to biomass was higher (33%). Interestingly, bakhour use was very high (78%), but neither bakhour nor any of the above-mentioned exposures were associated with the risk of COPD. CONCLUSIONS: COPD prevalence in 40-80 years old in Abu Dhabi was 3.7%, and associations with cigarette smoking or with other local inhaled exposures were not observed.