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Radiomorphological signs and clinical severity of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7.

About this Publication
Title
Radiomorphological signs and clinical severity of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7.
Pubmed ID
36452055 (View this publication on the PubMed website)
Digital Object Identifier
Publication
BJR Open. 2022; Volume 4 (Issue 1): Pages 20220016
Authors
Simon J, Grodecki K, Cadet S, Killekar A, Slomka P, Zara SJ, Zsarnóczay E, Nardocci C, Nagy N, Kristóf K, Vásárhelyi B, Müller V, Merkely B, Dey D, Maurovich-Horvat P
Affiliations
  • Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA.
  • Medical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
  • Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
  • Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
  • MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the differences in the severity and chest-CT radiomorphological signs of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 variants.

METHODS: We collected clinical data of consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and chest-CT imaging who were admitted to the Emergency Department between September 1- November 13, 2020 (non-B.1.1.7 cases) and March 1-March 18, 2021 (B.1.1.7 cases). We also examined the differences in the severity and radiomorphological features associated with COVID-19 pneumonia. Total pneumonia burden (%), mean attenuation of ground-glass opacities and consolidation were quantified using deep-learning research software.

RESULTS: The final population comprised 500 B.1.1.7 and 500 non-B.1.1.7 cases. Patients with B.1.1.7 infection were younger (58.5 ± 15.6 vs 64.8 ± 17.3; p < .001) and had less comorbidities. Total pneumonia burden was higher in the B.1.1.7 patient group (16.1% [interquartile range (IQR):6.0-34.2%] vs 6.6% [IQR:1.2-18.3%]; p < .001). In the age-specific analysis, in patients <60 years B.1.1.7 pneumonia had increased consolidation burden (0.1% [IQR:0.0-0.7%] vs 0.1% [IQR:0.0-0.2%]; p < .001), and severe COVID-19 was more prevalent (11.5% vs  4.9%; p = .032). Mortality rate was similar in all age groups.

CONCLUSION: Despite B.1.1.7 patients were younger and had fewer comorbidities, they experienced more severe disease than non-B.1.1.7 patients, however, the risk of death was the same between the two groups.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Our study provides data on deep-learning based quantitative lung lesion burden and clinical outcomes of patients infected by B.1.1.7 VOC. Our findings might serve as a model for later investigations, as new variants are emerging across the globe.

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