Lung ultrasound predicts clinical course and outcomes in COVID-19 patients

Yael Lichter, Yan Topilsky, Philippe Taieb, Ariel Banai, Aviram Hochstadt, Ilan Merdler, Amir Gal Oz, Jacob Vine, Or Goren, Barak Cohen, Orly Sapir, Yoav Granot, Tomer Mann, Shirley Friedman, Yoel Angel, Nimrod Adi, Michal Laufer-Perl, Merav Ingbir, Yaron Arbel, Idit MatotYishay Szekely

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

176 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Information regarding the use of lung ultrasound (LUS) in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is quickly accumulating, but its use for risk stratification and outcome prediction has yet to be described. We performed the first systematic and comprehensive LUS evaluation of consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection, in order to describe LUS findings and their association with clinical course and outcome. Methods: Between 21/03/2020 and 04/05/2020, 120 consecutive patients admitted to the Tel Aviv Medical Center due to COVID-19, underwent complete LUS within 24 h of admission. A second exam was performed in case of clinical deterioration. LUS score of 0 (best)—36 (worst) was assigned to each patient. LUS findings were compared with clinical data. Results: The median baseline total LUS score was 15, IQR [7–20]. Baseline LUS score was 0–18 in 80 (67%) patients, and 19–36 in 40 (33%) patients. The majority had patchy pleural thickening (n = 100; 83%), or patchy subpleural consolidations (n = 93; 78%) in at least one zone. The prevalence of pleural thickening, subpleural consolidations and the total LUS score were all correlated with severity of illness on admission. Clinical deterioration was associated with increased follow-up LUS scores (p = 0.0009), mostly due to loss of aeration in anterior lung segments. The optimal cutoff point for LUS score was 18 (sensitivity = 62%, specificity = 74%). Both mortality and need for invasive mechanical ventilation were increased with baseline LUS score > 18 compared to baseline LUS score 0–18. Unadjusted hazard ratio of death for LUS score was 1.08 per point [1.02–1.16], p = 0.008; Unadjusted hazard ratio of the composite endpoint (death or need for invasive mechanical ventilation) for LUS score was 1.12 per point [1.05–1.2], p = 0.0008. Conclusion: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19, at all clinical grades, present with pathological LUS findings. Baseline LUS score strongly correlates with the eventual need for invasive mechanical ventilation and is a strong predictor of mortality. Routine use of LUS may guide patients’ management strategies, as well as resource allocation in case of surge capacity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1873-1883
Number of pages11
JournalIntensive Care Medicine
Volume46
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical outcomes
  • Lung ultrasound
  • Risk stratification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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