University of Edinburgh

Dr Michelle Williams

National Institutes of Health

DL_2020_016

COVID-19 can be identified by looking for changes in the lungs on chest x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans. Different imaging features may be associated with different patterns of disease. In addition, radiological imaging can identify features of other diseases that affect the heart and the lungs. These other diseases may affect the outcomes of patients with COVID-19. This study will review the radiological imaging of patients with COVID-19 and identify features of heart and lung disease which can be used to find patients who do better or worse after COVID-19 infection. This will help us identify the overlap between COVID-19 and other diseases affecting the heart and the lungs, and may help identify groups of patients who are at an increased risk.

COVID-19 can present with characteristic features on radiological imaging. Radiological imaging can also reveal information about co-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. It is becoming apparent that the presence of such co-morbidities can affect the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. This study aims to identify and classify the features of COVID-19 and the characteristics of underlying cardiovascular and respiratory conditions on radiological imaging in patients tested for COVID-19. We will review the radiological imaging of patients tested for COVID-19. We will review CT (computed tomography) and x-ray imaging from the COVID-19 episode and imaging performed within the last 3 years if available. Radiological imaging will be de-identified for analysis. We will visually assess and classify the features of COVID-19 and compare this with RT-PCR results and clinical outcomes. We will identify the presence and extent of co-existing cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease and assess the impact of these on clinical outcomes. This will include the assessment of calcification in the coronary arteries, aorta and other blood vessels, assessing the distribution and volume of thoracic and abdominal fat and identifying and quantifying co-existing respiratory disease including emphysema, bronchiectasis, fibrosis, interstitial lung abnormalities and pulmonary embolism. COVID-19 has characteristic appearances on CT which may aid diagnosis and the identification of patients with poorer outcomes. Radiological imaging can identify pre-existing medical conditions which may impact outcomes including the presence and severity of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. This study will add to the understanding of the imaging findings of COVID-19 and the association of outcomes with radiological features of co-morbidities.

Public Health Research

11/08/2022

De-Personalised

TRE