Association between clinical, laboratory findings and chest CT in COVID-19 in a secondary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: A new emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent and halt the spread of the disease, patient management and isolation. In this study, we aimed to reveal correlations between clinical and laboratory findings with chest CT.

Methods: This in an observational case series single center study in a secondary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Patients were included if they had typical symptoms and positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2.

Results: Forty-two patients with positive RT-PCR were included in this study. Typical CT findings were present in 33 (78.6%). We found a positive correlation between patients in whom the imaging was performed after the 4^th day of symptoms and chest CT findings (r=0.365 p<0.05). In receiver operating characteristic analysis of this parameter, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.678, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 and 0.44, respectively.

Conclusions: Early diagnosis of COVID-19 is essential to promptly isolate and treat suspected patients. Utilization of chest CT to help diagnosis in this pandemic era needs to be considered by healthcare facilities especially if RT-PCR is limited.

Keywords: COVID-19; Chest computed tomography; diagnosis.

Figure 1. Receiver operating characteristic curve revealing the relationship between days of symptoms duration and typical CT findings

Figure 2. Typical COVID 19. Transverse CT images shows multiple ground-glass opacities (A, B yellow arrow) and mixed ground glass opacities and consolidation in both of the lower lung lobes (A, B, red arrow). Coronal reconstruction CT shows peripheral multifocal GGO (C, D yellow arrow) and consolidation (D red arrow) in both upper and lower lung lobes.