CLINICO-RADIOLOGICAL CORRELATION AND OUTCOME OF COVID-19 PATIENTS PRESENTING TO A L2 CENTRE IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH

Abstract

Objective of the current study was to evaluate the clinical features and severity of chest x-ray and its association with outcome in patients of Covid-19 in terms of hospital stay, discharge or death during hospital stay. A total of 100 patients above the age of 15 years diagnosed with Covid-19 by RT PCR of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal samples were included in the study. History of symptoms at onset was recorded, Chest-x-ray and hematological investigations were done. Chest x-ray findings were divided into three zones upper, middle and lower and each zone was given a score. Each zone involvement of either lung was given a score of 1. Maximum score was 6 with involvement of all zones of both lungs and minimum score was zero in patients with normal chest x-ray. These patients were followed up during their hospital stay in terms of oxygen requirement, Non invasive ventilation (NIV) requirement, Invasive mechanical ventilation, number of days of hospital stay and the outcome in terms of discharge or expired. Among the total of 100 patients, 58 were male and 42 were female patients. Maximum numbers of patients were in age group 45-60 years. Most common presenting complaint was fever followed by shortness of breath. Most common co morbidity was diabetes mellitus. We found that hypoxia at presentation, rate of intubation, and mortality was highest in patients with higher chest x-ray score and minimum in patients with chest x-ray score of zero. Discharge rate was highest in patient in lowest chest x-ray score. We conclude from the current study that chest x-ray score at the time of presentation has a predictive role in determining the risk of intubation and outcome in patients of covid-19.