The role of CT-scan in the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 in a sample of Iraqi patients referred to Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital, Iraq

The respiratory system is the primary target of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to clinical manifestations such as dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Other reported manifestations include generalized weakness, dizziness, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. A chest CT scan is one of the best imaging tools to screen and diagnose COVID-19. This prospective observational study was conducted at Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital in the mid-Euphrates region of Iraq to assess the prognostic role of chest CT examinations in COVID-19 patients between February 2020 and July the 15(th), 2020. The study included 100 patients suspected of COVID-19 based on clinical features and microbiological investigations, comprising 72 males and 28 females aged between 30 and 55. All patients were SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive and had no history of chronic lung disease. We categorized patients into two groups based on changes in density and lesion area: patients with changes (n=55) and patients without changes (n=45). Furthermore, we divided all patients into three groups according to treatment requirements and symptom severity: group 1 included patients with severe symptoms who required CPAP and admission to the Respiratory Care Unit, group 2 consisted of patients with moderate symptoms who needed oxygen therapy and hospital admission, and group 3 comprised patients with mild symptoms who were treated as outpatients with medication. Upon correlating the change in density and lesion area with these groups, we observed that most patients with no changes were in group 1, while patients with changes were predominantly seen in group 2. Additionally, the ratio of lesion area in the mediastinal CT window to lung CT was identified as a potential prognostic factor for COVID-19 patients.