PULMONARY ARTERY DIAMETER ON CHEST CT PREDICTS IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 PNEUMONIA

Nart Zafer Baytugan; Aziz Inan Celik; Tahir Bezgin

doi:10.5937/sanamed17-38017

Nart Zafer Baytugan Department of Cardiology, Gebze Fatih State Hospital, Kocaeli
Aziz Inan Celik Department of Cardiology, Gebze Fatih State Hospital, Kocaeli
Tahir Bezgin Department of Cardiology, Gebze Fatih State Hospital, Kocaeli

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/sanamed17-38017

Keywords: COVID-19, Computed tomography, pulmonary artery, mortality, pneumonia

Abstract

Background: Enlargement of the pulmonary artery (PA) could be helpful in risk stratification by the chest CT on the admission of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This study aimed to associate PA diameter and overall mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia. We designed a retrospective study between January 2021 and May 2021 in tertiary-level hospitals in Gebze, Turkey. Subjects were evaluated in two groups according to their survivor status (survivors and non-survivors). Then biochemical, demographic, and clinical values were compared via the groups to define the predictive value of PA diameter on chest CT images.

Results: In the enrolled 594 COVID-19 in-hospital patients (median age was 45 (34-58) years, 263patients (44.3%) were female. 44 patients (7.4%) died during hospitalization. Multivariate Cox-proportion regression model yielded main PA ≥ 29 mm on admission showed that as independent predictors of death (long rank <0.001, median survival time 28 days). Cumulative survival rates were MPAD ≥ 29 mm 45% and < 29 mm 90% yielded (p < 0.001)

Conclusions: PA dilatation is strongly linked with in-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. Thus increased PA diameter on chest CT at admission may guide rapid and early diagnosis of high-risk patients.

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