Spectrum of Findings of COVID-19 Associated Pneumonia on Initial Computed Tomography Chest and their association with duration of Hospital Stay and 30 days Mortality

Purpose: Objective of our study is to evaluate the spectrum of pulmonary findings on CT chest in patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia on initial CT chest and its association with duration of hospital stay and 30 days mortality. Methodology: A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted from 1/1/2021 to 12/11/2021. Patients with positive PCR test were included in our study. CT chest features at initial presentation and CT severity score were evaluated and association was assessed with duration of hospital stay and 30 days mortality. Results: Out of total of 203 confirmed PCR positive bilateral lung involvement was observed in 201(99%) patients? In 145 patients (71.4%) the distribution of disease in axial plane was peripheral. Mean total score of lung severity was 13.04 with 5.332 standard deviation. 51 patients (25.1%) had mild disease, 90(44.3%) had moderate disease and 62(30.5%) had severe disease. 32(15.8%) had ground glass opacities, 151(74.4%) had ground glass opacities and consolidation and 16(7.9%) had consolidations only. Mean of hospital stay was 10.94 days with 8.994 standard deviation. One month mortality was observed in 3 patients with mild disease, 30 patients with moderate disease and 27 patients with severe disease (p<0.001) on initial CT chest. Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia have certain typical features on CT chest, knowledge of which can help in rapid screening of such patients. CT severity score can aid in determining the extent and severity of disease. It can be used as a predicting factor for assessing the duration of hospital stay and mortality.