Evaluation of patients with respiratory infections during the first pandemic wave in Germany: characteristics of COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 patients

BMC Infectious Diseases

Vincent Schwarze¹  Wolfgang G. Kunz¹  Bastian O. Sabel¹  Sophia Kaestle¹  Jan Rudolph¹  Sophia Goller¹  Johannes Rueckel¹  Jens Ricke¹  Boj Hoppe¹  Eva Gresser¹  Nicola Fink² 

[1] Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany;Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany;Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 81377, Munich, Germany;

关键词: Respiratory infection;    COVID-19;    SARS-CoV2;    Characteristics;    Pneumonia;    Laboratory parameters;    Computed tomography;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-021-05829-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCharacteristics 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsCOVID-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%).ConclusionsCOVID-19 patients show typical clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters which enable a sensitive detection of patients who demand isolation measures due to COVID-19.

【 授权许可】

CC BY