Unraveling the Enigma of COVID-19 pneumonia and lung diameters: An HR-CT based study

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the association of COVID-19 pneumonia with lung diameters in cases and controls and evaluate the rate of intensive care unit admission and oxygen requirement in COVID-19 patients.

Methodology: A case-control study was conducted on 84 participants aged 40-60 years (42 COVID-19 survivors and 42 healthy controls) over seven months at a public hospital in Karachi, after ethical approval. Cases were subdivided into smokers and non-smokers. High-resolution CT (HRCT) was used to measure sagittal, coronal, and axial diameters of both lungs. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, while categorical data were shown as frequencies and percentages. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests were used to compare lung diameters and examine associations with hospital stay, ICU admission, and oxygen use.

Results: COVID-19 survivors showed significantly reduced lung diameters compared with controls (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers (p = 0.156). Oxygen demand was greater among smokers, but ICU admissions did not differ significantly.

Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia resulted in reduction of lung diameters, highlighting CT as a useful tool for follow-up assessment. Smoking did not significantly alter lung diameters but was linked to higher oxygen requirements.