Correlation of Chest CT Scan Severity Score and Disability in Post-COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: After recovering from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients face various problems like cognitive difficulties, mobility, and self-care. COVID-19 affects the respiratory system at varying severity. The severity of the lung infection was assessed by Chest Computed Tomography (CT) Severity Score (CTSS)- higher the score higher the severity of the disease.

Aim: To identify if the CTSS that is done during active disease has any correlation with post-COVID-19 illness disabilities and fatigue.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the post-COVID-19 rehabilitation clinic of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Total of 36, post-COVID-19 patients were included from December 2020 to June 2021. Fatigueness was assessed on Fatigue Severity Score (FSS) and disability was assessed on World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Scale 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). CTSS was recorded from the patient’s non contrast Chest CT scan report. This CT scan of chest scan was done during active COVID-19 disease. Spearman rank-order Correlation Coefficient (SCC) was used to identify correlations.

Results: There was no positive correlation of CTSS (10.3±6.4) with disability (11.3±11.8, p-value- 0.424) and fatigue (3.3±1.8, p-value- 0.225). There was no correlation found between post-COVID-19 disabilities (11.3±11.8) and fatigue (3.3±1.8, p-value- 0.993).

Conclusion: There was no positive correlation found between lung infection severity and disabilities, fatigue after COVID-19.