Thorax computed tomography involvement can be predicted by evaluating the laboratory parameters of patients admitted to the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the predictability of lung parenchymal involvement on computed tomography (CT) with laboratory parameters in patients with confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) with and without lung parenchymal involvement at the first admission to the emergency department.

Materials and Methods: The study included one hundred and nine patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the emergency COVID-19 department between April and September 2020. Laboratory parameters and thorax CT images were evaluated to evaluate the severity of the disease in all patients. The relationship between laboratory parameters was analysed in the patient groups with and without CT involvement.

Results: CT involvement was detected in 58 of 109 patients included in the study. There was a significant difference in lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, ferritin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet (PLT) and urea values in the group with CT involvement. Receiver operator characteristics analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of laboratory parameters in CT involvement. Significant diagnostic predictability values were determined for age, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, ferritin, fibrinogen, CRP, ESR, PLT and urea. The highest area under the curve values was obtained in CRP, ESR and eosinophil parameters.

Discussion: Lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, ferritin, fibrinogen, CRP, ESR, PLT and urea parameters can be used to predict lung involvement in the emergency department in patients with COVID-19 disease. According to these values, thorax CT can be decided for the patients. CRP, ESR and eosinophil parameters provided the highest specificity and sensitivity values in predicting lung involvement.