The Efficacy of Chest X-Ray for the Diagnosis and Follow-up in Young
Adult COVID-19 Patients with Mild Dyspnea No Comorbid Diseases
Abstract
Purpose: We investigated whether Chest X-Ray (CXR) could replace CT
modality in the diagnosis and during the treatment of young adult
COVID-19 patients with mild dyspnea with no comorbid diseases. Materials
and Method: This retrospective study involved an examination of the
records of a total of 956 patients hospitalized between March 1 and May
15, 2020. The study included a total of 64 patients, aged 21–60 years
with mild dyspnea with no comorbid diseases and with COVID-19 infection
confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction, who underwent a CXR at
admission and CT imaging within 24 hours. The first CXR and CT images at
the time of admission were evaluated in terms of lesions and
localization. The clinical-radiological course of the diseases with CXR
were also statistically evaluated. Results: CT was normal in 18/64
(28.2%) patients, all of whom also had normal CXR. The rest of the
patients 46/64 (71.8%) with an abnormal CT, the CXR was normal in 18/46
(39.1%) and abnormal in 28/46 (60.9%). The time between the onset of
complaints and admission to the hospital in patients with abnormal and
normal CXR was 3.5 ± 2.3 days and 2.1 ± 1.1, which was statistically
significant (p = 0.004). The hospital stay duration of the patient with
abnormal and normal CXR was 9.6 ± 3.5 and 9.5 ± 3.4 (p=0.928),
respectively, and was not statistically significant. Conclusion: CXR
could be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of young adult COVID 19
patients with mild dyspnea no comorbid disease. In the case of early
admission to the hospital, there is not a significant difference between
using CXR or CT in the management of these patients. Therefore, the use
of CXR in these patients groups will reduce the burden of CT units in
pandemic conditions with limited resources.