Introduction Plain chest radiograph (CXR) is the most common imaging modality used to evaluate respiratory symptoms CXR severity scoring has been shown to be an independent predictor of need for hospital admission and intubation and mechanical ventilation (I&MV) in COVID19 patients, but its role in predicting mortality is yet to be explored Aim We evaluated the predictive value and prognostic utility of CXRs in adult patients with COVID 19 infections Methods A retrospective analysis of 200 consecutive patients between March 2020 to May 2020 admitted to our tertiary centre with confirmed COVID 19 infection was conducted Lung fields on CXRs were divided into 6 zones: Right and left upper, mid and lower zones Mild changes were defined as unilateral changes zones 1-3;moderate changes were: Bilateral changes zones 2-3;severe changes: Changes zones 4-6 CXRs were reviewed and scored independently by 2 reporters: Thoracic radiologist and acute medical physician who were blinded to baseline patient characteristics and outcomes Results 200 patients (median age: 79 (IQR 63-86) years) were included, 108 of which were females and 92 males 61 (30 5%) died and 139 (69 5%) were discharged During admission, 19 (9 5%) were admitted to ITU, 2 (1%) to the Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) unit and 179 (89 5%) to COVID Medical wards Of the 61 patients (median age: 82 (IQR 73-89) years;27 (44 3%) male, 34 (55 7%) female) who died: 3 (4 9%) were admitted to ITU, 1 (1 6%) to NIV unit and 57 (93 4%) to COVID medical wards;45 (73 8%) received oxygen up to 15L, 1 (1 6%) received nasal high flow oxygen, 2 (3 3%) received CPAP and 3 (4 9%) received I&MV CXR changes on admission were not an independent predictor of mortality;no CXR changes (p=0 099), Mild CXR changes (p=0 416), Moderate CXR changes (p=0 283), Severe CXR changes (p=0 994) Severe CXR changes was an independent predictor of I&MV (OR 2 298;95% CI 1 156-4 566;p=0 018) Conclusion We conclude that a CXR severity score is an effective tool to predict risk for hospital admission and the need for I&MV Further larger studies will help validate this score by following up repeat CXRs to determine disease trajectory
Covid 19: Utility of plain chest radiograph Scoring system to predict disease severity and Outcomes