A New Scoring Model to Diagnose COVID-19 Using Lung Ultrasound in the Emergency Department

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have reported the predictors of the prognosis in COVID-19 patients; however, smoking, X-ray findings of pulmonary congestion, and A-profile and areas of consolidation in LUS are independent predictors for COVID-19 infection. The new score had a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 58% for the prediction of COVID-19. Mortality in COVID-19 patients is significantly correlated with age, fever duration, cardiac history, and B-profile and areas of consolidation in LUS. However, it is negatively correlated with initial O2saturation and ejection fraction. This study aimed to design a new scoring model to diagnose COVID-19 using bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) in the emergency department (ED).ResultsEighty-two patients were recruited. Fifty patients (61%) were negative for COVID-19, and 32 (39%) were positive. Sixty-four patients (78%) recovered while 18 patients (22%) died. COVID-19 patients had more AB-profile and more areas of consolidation than the non-COVID-19 group (p<0.001). Smoking, congestion in X-ray, A-profile, and abnormal A line in LUS are independent predictors for COVID-19 infection. The score had a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 58% for the prediction of COVID-19. Mortality in COVID-19 patients is significantly correlated with age, fever duration, cardiac history, and B-profile and areas of consolidation in LUS. However, it is negatively correlated with initial O2saturation and ejection fraction.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the application of our new score can stratify patients presented to ED with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia, considering that it is a good negative test. Moreover, this score may have a good impact on the safety of medical personnel.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govIdentifier: NCT05077202. Registered October 14, 2021 - Retrospectively registered,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05077202