Evaluation of Radiologic Findings and Lung Involvement Ratio in RT-PCR Positive Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to observe the imaging characteristics of the COVID-19 pneumonia and extent of pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 with quantitative computed tomography (CT) and to assess of disease burden on.
 Material and Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled in the study from March 20 to April 20, 2020. All patients underwent real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Two hundred and fifty seven patients (mean age 50 years; range 18-91years) with positive PCR and CT
 findings were included in the study. Lung computed tomography findings and involvement rates of all patients were determined. Nonparametric statistical tests
 were used to examine the relationship between the involvement ratio of lung disease and the age or sex.
 Results: Two hundred and fifty seven patients (147 males and 110 females) with SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled. The high density lung volume was significantly higher in males than in females. A significant correlation was observed in high-density lung volume between the genders in the 40-69 age group and the involvement was higher in males. The high density lung percentage was higher in the group above 80 years old.
 Conclusion: As a result, we found that among the age groups in our study, the percentage of lung involvement was higher in the group above 80 years old. Our results may help to identify the highest-risk patients and those who require specific treatment strategies