Organizing Pneumonia Pattern on Chest CT: Prevalence and Association with Clinical Outcomes in a Cohort of Patients with Severe/Critical COVID-19
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Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 pneumonia can present with two distinct radiologic patterns: diffuse alveolar damage or organizing pneumonia. These patterns have been linked to different outcomes in non-COVID-19 settings. We sought to assess the prevalence of organizing pneumonia radiologic pattern and its association with clinical outcomes.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including adult patients hospitalized for severe/critical COVID-19 who underwent chest computed tomography within 21 days of diagnosis. Radiologic patterns were reviewed and classified by two expert radiologists.
Results: Among 80 patients included, 89% (n=71) presented a pattern consistent with organizing pneumonia. The main radiologic findings were multilobar (98.7%) and bilateral (97.6%) distribution with ground glass opacities (97.6%). Intensive care admission was required for 44% (n=33) of subjects, of which 24% (n=19) received mechanical ventilation. The presence of organizing pneumonia was independently associated with a decreased odds of mechanical ventilation or death (Odds ratio 0.14; 95% confidence interval 0.02 - 0.96; p value 0.045) in a multivariate model including age, gender, BMI and lung involvement on CT.
Conclusion: A radiologic pattern of organizing pneumonia is highly prevalent in patients with severe/critical COVID-19 and is associated with improved clinical outcomes.
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