Background: The prognostic value of point-of-care lung ultrasound has not been evaluated in a large cohort of patients with COVID-19 admitted to general medicine ward in the United States. The aim of this study was to describe lung ultrasound findings and their prognostic value in patients with COVID-19 admitted to internal medicine ward. Method: This prospective observational study consecutively enrolled 105 hospitalized participants with COVID-19 at 2 tertiary care centers. Ultrasound was performed in 12 lung zones within 24 hours of admission. Findings were assessed relative to 4 outcomes: intensive care unit (ICU) need, need for intensive respiratory support, length of stay, and death. Results: We detected abnormalities in 92% (97/105) of participants. The common findings were confluent B-lines (92%), non-homogenous pleural lines (78%), and consolidations (54%). Large confluent B-lines, consolidations, bilateral involvement, and any abnormality in ≥ 6 areas were associated with a longer hospitalization and need for intensive respiratory support. Large confluent B-lines and bilateral involvement were also associated with ICU stay. A total lung ultrasound score <5 had a negative predictive value of 100% for the need of intensive respiratory support. A higher total lung ultrasound score was associated with ICU need (median total 18 in the ICU group vs. 11 non-ICU, p = 0.004), a hospitalization ≥ 9d (15 vs 10, p = 0.016) and need for intensive respiratory support (18 vs. 8.5, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Most patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had lung ultrasound abnormalities on admission and a higher lung ultrasound score was associated with worse clinical outcomes except death. A low total lung ultrasound score (<5) had a negative predictive value of 100% for the need of intensive respiratory support. Point-of-care ultrasound can aid in the risk stratification for patients with COVID-19 admitted to general wards.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus, Viral pneumonia, Point-of-Care ultrasound, Lung ultrasound, 【초록키워드】 Hospitalized, intensive care, Hospitalization, prospective observational study, intensive care unit, lung, observational study, ICU, Predictive value, Clinical outcome, risk stratification, point-of-care, Ultrasound, death, large cohort, United States, respiratory, Admission, Intensive, consolidation, internal medicine, Respiratory Support, Negative predictive value, on admission, 24 hours, Prognostic value, Participants, Most patients, consolidations, non-ICU, participant, Abnormalities, zone, finding, abnormality, The United States, enrolled, evaluated, Most patient, was performed, median, 24 hour, patients with COVID-19, tertiary care centers, were assessed, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 finding,