CT derived pulmonary vascular indices and severity of pneumonia in Covid-19 patients: A retrospective study

Context: The currently on-going COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the abnormal lung parenchymal changes which can also alter pulmonary vascular hemodynamics. Aims: This study was aimed to assess CT derived pulmonary vascular indices in COVID-19 patients in different groups based on the extent of pneumonia using CT severity score. Settings and design: Retrospective study at COVID-19 care centre in central India. Methods and material: 'this study included 78 institutionalized patients who were confirmed COVID-19 positive status. All patients were assessed based on demographic data, CT severity score; CT derived pulmonary vascular indices such as main pulmonary artery diameter and the pulmonary artery to aorta ratio (PA/AO). Changes in these pulmonary vascular indices were determined in each mild, moderate and severe group of pneumonia. Results: Out of 78 patients, 25.6% patients belonged to mild group, 28.2% belonged to moderate group and 21.8% belonged to severe group. 70.5% of all patients were males and 29.5% were females. 11% males and 17.4% females showed increased pulmonary artery above normal limits. 4 males and 4 females with increased pulmonary artery diameter belonged to severe group of COVID 19 pneumonia while 8 out of 10 patients with increased PA/AO belonged to severe group of pneumonia extent. Conclusions: In this study, patients with pulmonary artery enlargement and increased PA/AO (PA/AO) were predominantly found to belong to severe group of COVID-19 pneumonia, a finding requiring further investigation which will help to predict pulmonary hypertension in COVID-19 patients which has an unfavourable outcome.