Prognostic Implications of Regional Lung Impairment Evaluation in Quantitative CT Imaging of COVID-19

Abstract

Since its emergence, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a serious health issue around the world. This infection can range from asymptomatic cases to severe pulmonary complications, leading to acute respiratory distress, lung sequelae, and death. Analysis of the patterns of lung damage can improve the understanding of the infection’s impacts on the respiratory system and help with clinical decision-making. This study utilized semiautomatic CT imaging segmentation and quantification to investigate regional lung impairments in COVID-19 patients. For a detailed assessment of the virus’s impact on the organ, the lungs were divided into right and left, and the anatomical impairments obtained from the CT image (emphysema, ground glass opacity, and collapsed tissue) were analyzed. The results were then correlated with clinical outcomes to reveal patterns of impairment. This research encompassed 333 individuals, both COVID-positive (n = 190) and negative (n = 143), whose medical reports were checked for the need for ventilatory support and outcome (cure or deceased). Findings indicate a strong association between the extent of lung damage and COVID-19 diagnosis, the level of ventilatory assistance required, and patient survival rates. Notably, the lungs presented opacities and collapsed tissue in COVID-positive patients, particularly those requiring invasive ventilation or who succumbed to the illness. The results propose that early detection of quantifiable lung damage can serve as a valuable prognostic tool, helping to pinpoint patients at heightened risk of severe complications or mortality.