Analysis of Chest Computed Tomography Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Different Age Groups

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the chest computed tomography (CT) imaging features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people of different ages and improve the understanding of the imaging manifestations of COVID-19. Methods: Chest CT data of 476 cases with COVID-19 were retrospectively analyzed, including 275 males and 201 females. The patients were divided into four groups according to different age groups: groups A (0~45 years old) 33, B (45~60 years old) 72, C (60~75 years old) 203, and D (over 75 years old) 168. A comparison was made between the four groups of patients with chest CT lesions involving lobe side, number and density, distribution, and other basic CT signs, as well as differences in lesion volume, volume proportion, and density based on deep learning. Results: All the 476 patients with COVID-19 had an epidemiological history, and there was no statistically significant difference in sex between the groups. The lesions in the lower lobes of both lungs were the most common in the four groups. The lesions in group A were mostly located in the unilateral lung, while those in groups C and D were mostly distributed in both lungs. The volume and proportion of lesions increased with age in each group, and the distribution was mainly in the lower lobe of both lungs. In groups A, C, and D, the right lower lobe was the most common and had the largest volume and proportion, while in group B, the left lower lobe had the largest volume and proportion. Compared with group A, all indexes of group C increased, and the difference was statistically significant; the lesion volume of the right inferior lobe of the lung was statistically significant compared with group B. The volume of lesions in the left upper lobe of the lung in group D was significantly increased compared with that in groups A and B, and the volume and proportion of lesions in the whole lung, upper, middle, and lower lobes of the right lung, and the lower lobe of the left lung in group D were significantly increased compared with that in groups A, B and C, and the difference was statistically significant. In group A, the density of pure ground glass was the most common, followed by the density of mixed ground glass, and the density of solid change was rare. The solid density of lesions in group D was more common, most of which showed mixed ground glass density. The incidence of pure ground glass, mixed ground glass, and solid density lesions was higher in groups B and C than that in groups A and D. The lesion density in each group was mainly ground glass density, and the CT value ranged from −570 to −470 HU and −470 to −370 HU. The lesion volume in each CT value range of group D was higher than that in groups A, B, and C, and the volume proportion was higher than that in group A, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: All patients with COVID-19 in this group have an epidemiological history. Being familiar with chest CT features of people of different ages can make clinical diagnosis and treatment more targeted and provide a reference for COVID-19 disease monitoring and individualized prevention and treatment measures.