Detection the severity of COVID-19: Pneumonia infection by a computerized tomography scan assay in Kirkuk City

Abstract

Abstract Background: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was for the first time detected in China, Wuhan city, on December 2019. Then, a rapid spread of the virus occurred. World Health Organization declared this disease as a pandemic disease on March 2020. Objective: The purpose of this study was to find a relation between the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and chest-computed tomography (CT) scan findings. Materials and Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study, conducted on 202 infected patients with COVID-19 selected from referral cases to Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk Governorate during the period from November 12, 2020 to October 2, 2021. Evaluation of basic clinical character and detailed CT-imaging features were performed and a structured questionnaire had been used to collect the data as well as to interview the patients. The data were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 202 patients had been included in this study. Most of our patients infected by coronavirus pneumonia had a typical chest CT finding, such as ground glass opacities (GGOs) (176 [87.1%]) or a mix of consolidation and GGO (130 [65%]), enlargement of the vessel in the lesion account (144 [72%]), and traction bronchiectasis (106 [53%]). Presence of three parameters (bronchiectasis of traction type, the architectural distortion, and score of severity in CT) is helpful in assessing the severity and extension of pneumonia. Conclusion: Confirmed cases of COVID-19 pneumonia possess typical chest CT-imaging findings which can help the clinician screen for infection in highly suspected patients and evaluate the extent and severity of the disease.