BACKGROUND: Characteristics of COVID-19 patients have mainly been reported within confirmed COVID-19 cohorts. By analyzing patients with respiratory infections in the emergency department during the first pandemic wave, we aim to assess differences in the characteristics of COVID-19 vs. Non-COVID-19 patients. This is particularly important regarding the second COVID-19 wave and the approaching influenza season. METHODS: We prospectively included 219 patients with suspected COVID-19 who received radiological imaging and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters as well as RT-PCR results were used for subgroup analysis. Imaging data were reassessed using the following scoring system: 0 - not typical, 1 - possible, 2 - highly suspicious for COVID-19. RESULTS: COVID-19 was diagnosed in 72 (32,9%) patients. In three of them (4,2%) the initial RT-PCR was negative while initial CT scan revealed pneumonic findings. 111 (50,7%) patients, 61 of them (55,0%) COVID-19 positive, had evidence of pneumonia. Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia showed higher body temperature (37,7 ± 0,1 vs. 37,1 ± 0,1 °C; p = 0.0001) and LDH values (386,3 ± 27,1 vs. 310,4 ± 17,5 U/l; p = 0.012) as well as lower leukocytes (7,6 ± 0,5 vs. 10,1 ± 0,6G/l; p = 0.0003) than patients with other pneumonia. Among abnormal CT findings in COVID-19 patients, 57 (93,4%) were evaluated as highly suspicious or possible for COVID-19. In patients with negative RT-PCR and pneumonia, another third was evaluated as highly suspicious or possible for COVID-19 (14 out of 50; 28,0%). The sensitivity in the detection of patients requiring isolation was higher with initial chest CT than with initial RT-PCR (90,4% vs. 79,5%). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients show typical clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters which enable a sensitive detection of patients who demand isolation measures due to COVID-19.
BACKGROUND: Characteristics of COVID-19patients have mainly been reported within confirmed COVID-19 cohorts. By analyzing patients with respiratory infections in the emergency department during the first pandemic wave, we aim to assess differences in the characteristics of COVID-19 vs. Non-COVID-19patients. This is particularly important regarding the second COVID-19 wave and the approaching influenza season. METHODS: We prospectively included 219 patients with suspected COVID-19 who received radiological imaging and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters as well as RT-PCR results were used for subgroup analysis. Imaging data were reassessed using the following scoring system: 0 - not typical, 1 - possible, 2 - highly suspicious for COVID-19. RESULTS:COVID-19 was diagnosed in 72 (32,9%) patients. In three of them (4,2%) the initial RT-PCR was negative while initial CT scan revealed pneumonic findings. 111 (50,7%) patients, 61 of them (55,0%) COVID-19 positive, had evidence of pneumonia. Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia showed higher body temperature (37,7 ± 0,1 vs. 37,1 ± 0,1 °C; p = 0.0001) and LDH values (386,3 ± 27,1 vs. 310,4 ± 17,5 U/l; p = 0.012) as well as lower leukocytes (7,6 ± 0,5 vs. 10,1 ± 0,6G/l; p = 0.0003) than patients with other pneumonia. Among abnormal CT findings in COVID-19patients, 57 (93,4%) were evaluated as highly suspicious or possible for COVID-19. In patients with negative RT-PCR and pneumonia, another third was evaluated as highly suspicious or possible for COVID-19 (14 out of 50; 28,0%). The sensitivity in the detection of patients requiring isolation was higher with initial chest CT than with initial RT-PCR (90,4% vs. 79,5%). CONCLUSIONS:COVID-19patients show typical clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters which enable a sensitive detection of patients who demand isolation measures due to COVID-19.
Authors: Victor M Corman; Olfert Landt; Marco Kaiser; Richard Molenkamp; Adam Meijer; Daniel Kw Chu; Tobias Bleicker; Sebastian Brünink; Julia Schneider; Marie Luisa Schmidt; Daphne Gjc Mulders; Bart L Haagmans; Bas van der Veer; Sharon van den Brink; Lisa Wijsman; Gabriel Goderski; Jean-Louis Romette; Joanna Ellis; Maria Zambon; Malik Peiris; Herman Goossens; Chantal Reusken; Marion Pg Koopmans; Christian Drosten Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2020-01
Authors: Sanam Ebrahimzadeh; Nayaar Islam; Haben Dawit; Jean-Paul Salameh; Sakib Kazi; Nicholas Fabiano; Lee Treanor; Marissa Absi; Faraz Ahmad; Paul Rooprai; Ahmed Al Khalil; Kelly Harper; Neil Kamra; Mariska Mg Leeflang; Lotty Hooft; Christian B van der Pol; Ross Prager; Samanjit S Hare; Carole Dennie; René Spijker; Jonathan J Deeks; Jacqueline Dinnes; Kevin Jenniskens; Daniël A Korevaar; Jérémie F Cohen; Ann Van den Bruel; Yemisi Takwoingi; Janneke van de Wijgert; Junfeng Wang; Elena Pena; Sandra Sabongui; Matthew Df McInnes Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2022-05-16
Authors: Tim Fischer; Yassir El Baz; Giulia Scanferla; Nicole Graf; Frederike Waldeck; Gian-Reto Kleger; Thomas Frauenfelder; Jens Bremerich; Sabine Schmidt Kobbe; Jean-Luc Pagani; Sebastian Schindera; Anna Conen; Simon Wildermuth; Sebastian Leschka; Carol Strahm; Stephan Waelti; Tobias Johannes Dietrich; Werner C Albrich Journal: Eur J Radiol Open Date: 2022-06-24