Abnormal Chest Computed Tomography Findings Among Admitted Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Jan 27

PMID 36705199

Authors

Sujit Pant

Bina Basnet

Sujata Panta

Neeraj Basanta Tulachan

Kalpana Rai

Mukunda Singh Shrestha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 has emerged as a pandemic and has varied clinical presentation. Computed Tomography scans of the chest play an important role in evaluating the lung parenchymal changes and aids in better planning the management of COVID-19 patients. The purpose of this study was to find the prevalence of abnormal chest computed tomography findings among admitted symptomatic COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 25 October 2020 to January 2021 in a tertiary care hospital. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Registration number: 348). Convenience sampling method was used. Chest computed tomography findings of the admitted symptomatic COVID-19 patients were evaluated for abnormal findings. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

Results: Among 153 patients, abnormal chest computed tomography findings were seen in 147 (96.07%) (92.99-99.15, 95% Confidence Interval). The findings of ground-glass opacities with consolidations were seen in 78 (53.06%) patients.

Conclusions: The prevalence of abnormal chest findings among symptomatic COVID-19 patients in our study was similar to the studies done in other countries in similar settings. Majority of the symptomatic COVID-19 patients showed abnormal chest computed tomography scan findings in the form of ground glass opacities and consolidations.

Keywords: COVID-19; Nepal; pneumonia; prevalence.

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