Several prognostic factors have been identified for COVID-19 disease. Our aim was to elucidate the influence of non-pulmonary findings of thoracic computed tomography (CT) on unfavorable outcomes and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients based on a large patient sample.
Materials and Methods
MEDLINE library, Cochrane and SCOPUS databases were screened for the associations between CT-defined features and mortality in COVID-19 patients up to June 2021. In total, 22 studies were suitable for the analysis, and included into the present analysis. Overall, data regarding 4 extrapulmonary findings could be pooled: pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and coronary calcification.
Results
The included studies comprised 7859 patients. The pooled odds ratios for the effect of the identified extrapulmonary findings on in-hospital mortality are as follows: pleural effusion, 4.60 (95% CI 2.97-7.12); pericardial effusion, 1.29 (95% CI 0.83-1.98); coronary calcification, 2.68 (95% CI 1.78-4.04); mediastinal lymphadenopathy, 2.02 (95% CI 1.18-3.45).
Conclusion
Pleural effusion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and coronary calcification have a relevant association with in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients and should be included as prognostic biomarker into clinical routine.