Association between Chest CT Severity Scores and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination among COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-sectional Study from Pune, India
Published: June 1, 2022 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2022/53056.16482
Ashish Laxman Atre, Akhil Atre, Suhrud Panchawagh, Rahul Khamkar, Aparna Chandorkar, Sunil Patil
1. Chief Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Star Imaging and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
2. Undergraduate Student, Government Medical College Byramjee Jeejeebhoy and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, Maharashtra, India,
3. Undergraduate Student, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
4. Undergraduate Student, Government Medical College Byramjee Jeejeebhoy and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
5. Research Associate and Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Star Imaging and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
6. Founder, Star Imaging and Research Centre and Associate Professor (Honorary), Department of Radiology, B.J. Government Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Correspondence
Ashish Laxman Atre,
Chief Radiologist, Star Imaging and Research Centre, Deccan-Joshi Hospital Campus, Opposite Kamla Nehru Park, Erandawane, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
E-mail: atreal@gmail.com
Introduction: The novel Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is seen to primarily affect the human respiratory system. Chest CT Severity Score (CTSS) provides a semi-quantitative assessment of pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures such as SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are being deployed worldwide. However, with the emerging variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2, a high prevalence of post vaccination breakthrough infections is seen.
Aim: To assess the association of CTSS with the vaccination status in a cohort of COVID-19 patients referred to a tertiary diagnostic centre and to evaluate the association of CTSS with other clinical parameters including co-morbidities in these patients.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care diagnostic imaging centre in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. Data of 1002 symptomatic, adult patients who underwent chest CT and SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)/Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) laboratory test between March 13, 2021 and June 22, 2021, were collected. COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) categories and the corresponding semi-quantitative CTSS were calculated for each patient. Based on their vaccination status, patients were categorised into three groups: unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated. The association of CTSS with various categories of vaccination status, demographics, co-morbidities and stages of the disease of the patients, was evaluated.
Results: Of the 1002 COVID-19 patients, 768 (76.6%) were unvaccinated, 190 (19.0%) were partially vaccinated and 44 (4.4%) were fully vaccinated. Mean CTSS in the fully vaccinated cohort was significantly lower (3.75±4.7) than that in the partially vaccinated (6.05±5.7) and unvaccinated (8.29±4.9) patients (mean 3.75 vs. 6.05 vs. 8.29, respectively; (p<0.05). Mean CTSS in patients with no co-morbidities was significantly lower than that in patients with hypertension and diabetes (7.12 vs. 8.75 vs. 10.39, respectively; (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Significant association was noted between the Chest CTSS and the vaccination status, age, gender, co-morbidities and stage of disease in this large cohort of COVID-19 patients. The study reiterates that full vaccination aids in reducing the severity of lung involvement in COVID-19 infection.
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