Background: Bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a useful and noninvasive tool to detect lung involvement and monitor changes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the clinical significance of the LUS score in patients with COVID-19 remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the LUS score in patients with COVID-19. Methods: : The LUS protocol consisted of 12 scanning zones and was performed in 280 consecutive patients with COVID-19. The LUS score based on B-lines, lung consolidation and pleural line abnormalities was evaluated. Results: : The median time from admission to LUS examinations was 7 days (interquartile range [IQR] 3-10). Patients in the highest LUS score group were more likely to have a lower lymphocyte percentage (LYM%);higher levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, hypersensitive troponin I and creatine kinase muscle-brain;more invasive mechanical ventilation therapy;higher incidence of ARDS;and higher mortality than patients in the lowest LUS score group. After a median follow-up of 14 days [IQR, 10-20 days], 37 patients developed ARDS, and 13 died. Patients with adverse outcomes presented a higher rate of bilateral involvement;more involved zones and B-lines, pleural line abnormalities and consolidation;and a higher LUS score than event-free survivors. The Cox models adding the LUS score as a continuous variable (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.05, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.02～1.08;P < 0.001;Akaike Information Criterion [AIC] =272;C-index = 0.903) or as a categorical variable (HR: 10.76, 95% CI: 2.75～42.05;P = 0.001;AIC =272;C-index = 0.902) were found to predict poor outcomes more accurately than the basic model (AIC =286;C-index = 0.866). An LUS score cut-off >12 predicted adverse outcomes with a specificity and sensitivity of 90.5% and 91.9%, respectively. Conclusions: : The LUS score devised by our group performs well at predicting adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and is important for risk stratification in COVID-19 patients.
Prognostic value of bedside lung ultrasound score in patients with COVID-19