Rational: the radiologic pulmonary inflammatory index (PII) may be used as early predictor of inflammation as laboratory assessments in COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological features between the cases of COVID-19 necessitating ICU and those who did not, and to correlate the PII with other inflammatory markers and outcome. Patients and methods: This study included 72 patients with confirmed COVID-19. Their electronic records of were retrospectively revised and the demographic, clinical, laboratory, HRCT data, PII and the outcomes of the patients were analyzed. Results: They were 50/50% males/females, mean age was 47.1 (16.8). During their stay, 15.3% necessitated ICU admittance, 68% cured, 9 cases referred and five cases (6.9%) died. The baseline lesions identified were ground glass opacification in (93%), higher PII and >3 lobes affection were considerably recorded in those who required ICU (P= 0.041 and 0.013). There were correlations between PII with age (r=0.264, P=0.031), ferritin (r=0.225, P=0.048) and D Dimer (r=0.271, P=0.043). Conclusions: The use of PII together with clinical and laboratory data may be valuable in defining the inflammatory state of COVID-19. It was correlated with other inflammatory indices as D dimer, ferritin even before clinical deterioration.
Is there a correlation between pulmonary inflammation index with COVID-19 disease severity and outcome?
