The Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of Non-Contrast Chest CT in COVID-19 Primary Infected Patients

Abstract

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) has shown to have a significant role to help in diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also assessing the disease progression and monitoring the response to treatment since it is less expensive, readily accessible, safe and saves time. This research objects to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of non-contrast chest CT in COVID-19 primary infected patients. This prospective research involved 100 COVID-19 infected patients as proven by ​polymerase Chain Reaction (63 females and 37 males). Initial and follow up CT scans were performed. Results: There was a positive significant correlation between CT severity score and diabetes mellitus, malignancy, and other immune-compromised disease. There was a positive significant correlation between CT severity score and age (r=0.830, p<0.001) and smoking (r=0.231, p=0.020).  Age, smoking and CT severity score were significant predictors for incidence of fibrotic changes. Conclusion: This study confirmed the great significance of chest CT for the differentiation between pulmonary changes occurred during infection and follow up and predict the risk factors that can affect the prognosis of the disease.