CT Chest Findings and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients in Taif Region

Abstract

Background: Medical imaging was frequently the sole way to prioritize individuals suspected of having COVID-19 in the early stages of the epidemic when comprehensive Polymerase Chain Reaction diagnostic assays were not yet available. Medical imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of this disease. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic criteria of chest CT findings and clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 patients in the Taif region. Methods: One hindered medical record of confirmed COVID-19 patients aged 18 years old and above with various signs and symptoms who were admitted to the emergency department of King Faisal Hospital in Taif were included retrospectively from picture archiving and communication system (PACS) in the period from Jan to June 2022, Saudi Arabia. All patients who underwent chest X-ray, chest CT imaging, and follow-up, were included in this study. Result: The majority of the patients were aged 61 years and above (44%), followed by the age group 46-59 years (32%), The mean age of patients was 44.5 (±12.5) years. (67%) were Saudi. (30%) had fever, cough &\or shortness of breathing, followed by (22%) had fever and cough. The majority of COVID-19 patients had abnormal chest CT findings; ground-glass opacities and consolidations were the most frequent findings, with peripheral and diffuse scattered ground-glass opacities and patchy consolidations within the lung zones. Conclusion:  This study evaluates the diagnostic criteria of chest CT findings and clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 patients in the Taif region. The elderly population with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension were more affected by COVID-19. Fever, cough, and breathing difficulties are the most common clinical signs. Most of the patients showed peripheral and diffuse scattered ground-glass opacities and patchy consolidations in the lung zones, according to CT scans.