Pere Trias-Sabrià1,2, Maria Molina-Molina1,2, Samantha Aso1, Marta Hernández Argudo1, Marta Diez-Ferrer1, Joan Sabater3, Jordi Dorca1,2, Salud Santos1,2, Guillermo Suarez-Cuartin4. 1. Respiratory Department, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain. 2. Universitat de Barcelona, Campus Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain. 3. Critical Care Department, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain. 4. Respiratory Department, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain. gsuarezc@bellvitgehospital.cat.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can develop severe bilateral pneumonia leading to respiratory failure. We aimed to study the potential role of lung ultrasound score (LUS) in subjects with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an observational, prospective pilot study, including consecutive subjects admitted to an intermediate care unit due to COVID-19 pneumonia. LUS is a 12-zone examination method for lung parenchyma assessment. LUS was performed with a portable convex transducer, scores from 0 to 36 points. Clinical and demographic data were collected at LUS evaluation. Survival analysis was performed using a composite outcome including ICU admission or death. Subjects were followed for 30 d from LUS assessment. RESULTS: Of 36 subjects included, 69.4% were male, and mean age was 60.19 ± 12.75 y. A cutoff LUS ≥ 24 points showed 100% sensitivity, 69.2% specificity, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 for predicting worse prognosis. The composite outcome was present in 10 subjects (55.6%) with LUS ≥ 24 points, but not in the group with lower LUS scores (P < .001). Subjects with LUS ≥ 24 points had a higher risk of ICU admission or death (hazard ratio 9.97 [95% CI 2.75-36.14], P < .001). Significant correlations were observed between LUS and [Formula: see text], serum D-dimer, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and lymphocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: LUS ≥ 24 points can help identify patients with COVID-19 who are likely to require ICU admission or to die during follow-up. LUS also correlates significantly with clinical and laboratory markers of COVID-19 severity.
BACKGROUND:Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can develop severe bilateral pneumonia leading to respiratory failure. We aimed to study the potential role of lung ultrasound score (LUS) in subjects with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an observational, prospective pilot study, including consecutive subjects admitted to an intermediate care unit due to COVID-19 pneumonia. LUS is a 12-zone examination method for lung parenchyma assessment. LUS was performed with a portable convex transducer, scores from 0 to 36 points. Clinical and demographic data were collected at LUS evaluation. Survival analysis was performed using a composite outcome including ICU admission or death. Subjects were followed for 30 d from LUS assessment. RESULTS: Of 36 subjects included, 69.4% were male, and mean age was 60.19 ± 12.75 y. A cutoff LUS ≥ 24 points showed 100% sensitivity, 69.2% specificity, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 for predicting worse prognosis. The composite outcome was present in 10 subjects (55.6%) with LUS ≥ 24 points, but not in the group with lower LUS scores (P < .001). Subjects with LUS ≥ 24 points had a higher risk of ICU admission or death (hazard ratio 9.97 [95% CI 2.75-36.14], P < .001). Significant correlations were observed between LUS and [Formula: see text], serum D-dimer, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and lymphocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: LUS ≥ 24 points can help identify patients with COVID-19 who are likely to require ICU admission or to die during follow-up. LUS also correlates significantly with clinical and laboratory markers of COVID-19 severity.
Authors: Pere Trias-Sabrià; Eduard Dorca Duch; Maria Molina-Molina; Samantha Aso; Marta Díez-Ferrer; Alfredo Marín Muñiz; Jaume Bordas-Martínez; Joan Sabater; Patricio Luburich; Belén Del Rio; Xavier Solanich; Jordi Dorca; Salud Santos; Guillermo Suárez-Cuartin Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-04-19