Study of chest radiographs disease progression and severity factors in patients with COVID-19 who received treatment at Kalasin Hospital in 1 May 2021 – 15 July 2021

Abstract

     Covid-19 is a contagious respiratory disease and for this reason chest radiography or CXR can be used to diagnose Covid-19, as it often manifests itself as pneumonia. Currently there are no specific characteristic radiographic findings that are used during diagnosis of patients with Covid-19 pneumonia6.The aim of this study is to investigate and describe findings and risk factors the of first images made with CXR in patients suffering from Covid-19, These patients were treated at Kalasin Hospital (Thailand) between May 1, 2021 and July 15, 2021.The descriptive Statistics study uses the average and percentage. Analytical statistics use multiple logistic regression ORadj 95%CI at p =0.05.

     Result: 250 patients, of which 110 females (53.7%) and male 95 (46.3%), where admitted at Kalasin Hospital from May 1, 2021, to July 15, 2021. Their ages ranges from 18 to 69 years (mean age = 40). Most patients were self-employed (56.6%) and active in the agricultural sector (25.3%). Most patients had no underlying disease (77.1%), but some suffered from diabetes mellitus DM (10.7%). Most patients complained of coughing (53.7%) and fever (51.7%). 147 patients in 205 patients (71.7%)
has abnormal CXR findings. 439 abnormal CXR in all 696 CXR were analyzed to see disease progression. The most common abnormal findings on CXR were peripheral ground glass opacity affecting the bilateral lower lobes. The ground glass opacity progressed from peripheral to diffuse bilateral middle and lower lung fields with increase consolidation about 1-4 days and 5-9 days after initial CXR. The reticulations were developed about 10 days to more than 15 days from initial CXR that indicating healing phase. The first chest radiography found consolidation related with clinical
severity statistically significant ORadj = 18.64, 95% Cl: 1.9274-180.356, p = 0.01. Multivariate analysis found one year increase in age relate with abnormal CXR 1.1 times (95% CI: 1.06 – 1.14, p-value <0.001).