# The Linear Association of Chest Radiograph Opacification With Both Respiratory Physiology and Systemic Inflammation in Hospital In‐Patients With Covid‐19 Infection

## TL;DR

This study shows that chest X-ray opacification in COVID-19 patients correlates with breathing difficulties and inflammation levels.

## Contribution

It demonstrates a linear association between chest radiograph opacification and both respiratory and inflammatory markers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

## Key findings

- Chest radiograph opacification correlated with oxygen saturation and supplementary oxygen requirements (r = -0.38).
- Opacification also correlated with serum C-reactive protein levels (r = +0.33).
- The median opacification was 20% with a wide interquartile range (5–45%).

## Abstract

Chest radiographs are generally used for diagnostic purposes. They also have potential to quantify disease severity. This analysis tested the hypothesis that there was an association between chest radiograph opacification and measures of respiratory physiological status and systemic inflammation in patients with Covid‐19 infection.

Data on chest radiograph opacification were compared with concurrent measures of oxygen requirements and saturation and serum C‐reactive protein.

Data were available from 628 individuals. The median opacification on chest radiographs was 20% (interquartile range 5–45). This was associated both SFR (oxygen saturation/supplementary oxygen) with an r value of −0.38 (95% confidence intervals CI: −0.45 to −31, Pearson's correlation coefficient) and CRP (+0.33; 95% CI: +0.24 to +0.41, Pearson's correlation coefficient).

Chest radiograph opacification scores are associated with both respiratory physiology status and systemic inflammation levels in patients with Covid‐19 infection.

Chest radiograph opacification scores are associated with both respiratory physiology status and systemic inflammation levels in patients with Covid‐19 infection.