Correlation between Clinical Outcome and Computed Tomography Findings in Coronavirus Disease 2019

Objective: To analyze the differences in chest computed tomography (CT) findings in patients infected with Omicron strain BF.7 of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with different clinical outcomes, and to improve the understanding of COVID-19 imaging. Methods: The features of chest CT images from 126 patients infected with Omicron BF.7 strain at the People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were retrospectively analyzed, and divided into ‘group A’ (not serious) and ‘group B’ (serious) according to whether they progressed to critically ill patients. There were 103 cases in group A, including 65 males and 38 females, with an average age of (73.98±11.53) years. There were 23 patients in group B, including 16 males and 7 females, with an average age of (73.43±12.53) years old. The differences in age, gender, and chest CT lesion distribution, density, and lung lobe involvement were compared between the two groups. Results: All 126 COVID-19 patients had an epidemiological history, and there was no statistical significance in age and sexes between the two groups. The volume proportion of lesions in the upper and lower lobes of the left lung, the upper, middle, and lower lobes of the right lung, and both lungs in group B was higher than that in group A. The lesions were primarily ground glass shadow and consolidation, and the range was larger than group A. Conclusion: The age and chest CT findings of patients who developed severe COVID-19 are different from those who do not. The analysis of imaging characteristics can provide reference for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic assessment.