Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests
Background: The role of quantitative chest computed tomography (CT) is controversial in the follow-up of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The aim of this study was to test during the follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia the association between pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and quantitative parameters...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/21/3328 |
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| author | Davide Colombi Marcello Petrini Camilla Risoli Angelo Mangia Gianluca Milanese Mario Silva Cosimo Franco Nicola Sverzellati Emanuele Michieletti |
| author_facet | Davide Colombi Marcello Petrini Camilla Risoli Angelo Mangia Gianluca Milanese Mario Silva Cosimo Franco Nicola Sverzellati Emanuele Michieletti |
| author_sort | Davide Colombi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The role of quantitative chest computed tomography (CT) is controversial in the follow-up of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The aim of this study was to test during the follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia the association between pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and quantitative parameters extrapolated from follow-up (FU) CT scans performed at least 6 months after COVID-19 onset. Methods: The study included patients older than 18 years old, admitted to the emergency department of our institution between 29 February 2020 and 31 December 2020, with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, who underwent chest CT at admission and FU CT at least 6 months later; PFTs were performed within 6 months of FU CT. At FU CT, quantitative parameters of well-aerated lung and pneumonia extent were identified both visually and by software using CT density thresholds. The association between PFTs and quantitative parameters was tested by the calculation of the Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation (rho). Results: The study included 40 patients (38% females; median age 63 years old, IQR, 56–71 years old). A significant correlation was identified between low attenuation areas% (%LAAs) <950 Hounsfield units (HU) and both forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio (rho −0.410, 95% CIs −0.639–−0.112, <i>p</i> = 0.008) and %DLCO (rho −0.426, 95% CIs −0.678–−0.084, <i>p</i> = 0.017). The remaining quantitative parameters failed to demonstrate a significant association with PFTs (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Conclusions: At follow-up, CT scans performed at least 6 months after COVID-19 pneumonia onset showed %LAAs that were inversely associated with %DLCO and could be considered a marker of irreversible lung damage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:31:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f8268c0c2e646e2bd63de7df9e554e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:31:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f8268c0c2e646e2bd63de7df9e554e32023-11-10T15:00:59ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-10-011321332810.3390/diagnostics13213328Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function TestsDavide Colombi0Marcello Petrini1Camilla Risoli2Angelo Mangia3Gianluca Milanese4Mario Silva5Cosimo Franco6Nicola Sverzellati7Emanuele Michieletti8Radiology Unit, Department of Radiological Functions, AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna 49, 29121 Piacenza, ItalyRadiology Unit, Department of Radiological Functions, AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna 49, 29121 Piacenza, ItalyRadiology Unit, Department of Radiological Functions, AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna 49, 29121 Piacenza, ItalyPulmonology Unit, Department of Emergency, AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna 49, 29121 Piacenza, ItalyScienze Radiologiche, Department of Medicine and Surgery (DiMeC), University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, ItalyScienze Radiologiche, Department of Medicine and Surgery (DiMeC), University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, ItalyPulmonology Unit, Department of Emergency, AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna 49, 29121 Piacenza, ItalyScienze Radiologiche, Department of Medicine and Surgery (DiMeC), University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, ItalyRadiology Unit, Department of Radiological Functions, AUSL Piacenza, Via Taverna 49, 29121 Piacenza, ItalyBackground: The role of quantitative chest computed tomography (CT) is controversial in the follow-up of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The aim of this study was to test during the follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia the association between pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and quantitative parameters extrapolated from follow-up (FU) CT scans performed at least 6 months after COVID-19 onset. Methods: The study included patients older than 18 years old, admitted to the emergency department of our institution between 29 February 2020 and 31 December 2020, with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, who underwent chest CT at admission and FU CT at least 6 months later; PFTs were performed within 6 months of FU CT. At FU CT, quantitative parameters of well-aerated lung and pneumonia extent were identified both visually and by software using CT density thresholds. The association between PFTs and quantitative parameters was tested by the calculation of the Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation (rho). Results: The study included 40 patients (38% females; median age 63 years old, IQR, 56–71 years old). A significant correlation was identified between low attenuation areas% (%LAAs) <950 Hounsfield units (HU) and both forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio (rho −0.410, 95% CIs −0.639–−0.112, <i>p</i> = 0.008) and %DLCO (rho −0.426, 95% CIs −0.678–−0.084, <i>p</i> = 0.017). The remaining quantitative parameters failed to demonstrate a significant association with PFTs (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Conclusions: At follow-up, CT scans performed at least 6 months after COVID-19 pneumonia onset showed %LAAs that were inversely associated with %DLCO and could be considered a marker of irreversible lung damage.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/21/3328COVID-19post-acute COVID-19 syndromepulmonary emphysema |
| spellingShingle | Davide Colombi Marcello Petrini Camilla Risoli Angelo Mangia Gianluca Milanese Mario Silva Cosimo Franco Nicola Sverzellati Emanuele Michieletti Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests Diagnostics COVID-19 post-acute COVID-19 syndrome pulmonary emphysema |
| title | Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests |
| title_full | Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests |
| title_short | Quantitative CT at Follow-Up of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relationship with Pulmonary Function Tests |
| title_sort | quantitative ct at follow up of covid 19 pneumonia relationship with pulmonary function tests |
| topic | COVID-19 post-acute COVID-19 syndrome pulmonary emphysema |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/21/3328 |
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