Abstract
Background Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection and serological antibody tests giv
a proof of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Several variables can infuence the consequences of these
tests. Infammatory markers among mild and severe patients of COVID-19 showed dissimilarity in infammatory mark
ers while computed tomography (CT) in patients infected with COVID-19 used to evaluate infection severity. The aim
of this study is to investigate the application of the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) classifcation i
COVID-19 patients and its relation to clinical and laboratory fnding
Results One hundred patients suspected to have COVID-19 infection were involved. Their age was 49.6 ± 14.7. Fever
and cough were the frequent presenting symptoms. Patients with positive PCR were signifcantly associated with
dyspnea and higher infammatory markers. Lymphopenia had sensitivity of 63.6% and specifcity of 91.7%. Combina‑
tion of PCR and lymphopenia increased both sensitivity and specifcity. CT fndings in relation to PCR showed sensitiv‑
ity of 90.5% and specifcity of 25%. CO-RADS score showed positive correlation with age and infammatory biomarkers
and negative correlation with absolute lymphocyte count (ALC).
Conclusions CT fnding was more prominent in older patients with COVID-19 and associated with higher infam
matory biomarkers and lower ALC which were correlated with CO-RADS score. Patients with positive PCR had more
symptoms and infammatory marker. Combination of PCR with either lymphopenia or CT fnding had more sensitivity,
specifcity and accuracy in diagnosis |
