Comparison of Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan, Clinical and Para-clinical Findings in Hospitalized Vaccinated and Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Study from Babol County

CT scan, Clinical, and Para-clinical Findings in Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Objective: Vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing severe lung disease and reducing hospitalization rates in patients with COVID-19. In this study, researchers compared clinical and para-clinical findings, along with Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals with COVID-19.

Methods: The study took place at Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital in Babol, Iran, between July and November 2021. Researchers selected 106 confirmed COVID-19 patients, dividing them into two groups: 53 fully vaccinated individuals with the Sinopharm vaccine and 53 unvaccinated cases. Demographic, laboratory, and imaging data were collected.

Results: The mean age of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 59.8 ± 16.1 years. The most common CT scan finding in both groups was bilateral ground glass opacities, observed in 95 patients (89.6%). Significant associations were found between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups regarding hospital stay duration, oxygen saturation, ICU admission, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) index.

Conclusion: This study revealed no difference in the pattern of pulmonary involvement between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals with COVID-19, except for the Peri-bronchovascular pattern, which was more commonly observed in unvaccinated patients. Other common patterns of pulmonary involvement were also more prevalent in unvaccinated individuals. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination, as the vaccinated group had a lower rate of pulmonary involvement. It highlights the necessity of widespread vaccination to combat COVID-19 effectively.