CO-RADS score and its correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection and serological antibody tests give a proof of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Several variables can influence the consequences of these tests. Inflammatory markers among mild and severe patients of COVID-19 showed dissimilarity in inflammatory markers while computed tomography (CT) in patients infected with COVID-19 used to evaluate infection severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the application of the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) classification in COVID-19 patients and its relation to clinical and laboratory finding. RESULTS: One hundred patients suspected to have COVID-19 infection were involved. Their age was 49.6 ± 14.7. Fever and cough were the frequent presenting symptoms. Patients with positive PCR were significantly associated with dyspnea and higher inflammatory markers. Lymphopenia had sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 91.7%. Combination of PCR and lymphopenia increased both sensitivity and specificity. CT findings in relation to PCR showed sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 25%. CO-RADS score showed positive correlation with age and inflammatory biomarkers and negative correlation with absolute lymphocyte count (ALC). CONCLUSIONS: CT finding was more prominent in older patients with COVID-19 and associated with higher inflammatory biomarkers and lower ALC which were correlated with CO-RADS score. Patients with positive PCR had more symptoms and inflammatory marker. Combination of PCR with either lymphopenia or CT finding had more sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in diagnosis