Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection

Background: The severity of COVID pneumonia depends on the degree of lung parenchyma inflammation. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for COVID-19 and examines the relationship between CRP levels and computed tomography Severity Scores (CTSS). Methods: An observational study was cond...

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Main Authors: Namirah Iftikhar, Muhammad Osama Rehman Khalid, Asif Husain Osmani, Gulraiz Hikmatyar, Sara Anjum Fazal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ziauddin University 2025-04-01
Series:Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry
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Online Access:https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3091
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author Namirah Iftikhar
Muhammad Osama Rehman Khalid
Asif Husain Osmani
Gulraiz Hikmatyar
Sara Anjum Fazal
author_facet Namirah Iftikhar
Muhammad Osama Rehman Khalid
Asif Husain Osmani
Gulraiz Hikmatyar
Sara Anjum Fazal
author_sort Namirah Iftikhar
collection DOAJ
description Background: The severity of COVID pneumonia depends on the degree of lung parenchyma inflammation. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for COVID-19 and examines the relationship between CRP levels and computed tomography Severity Scores (CTSS). Methods: An observational study was conducted at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton campus, Karachi, Pakistan, from June to November 2021. Purposive sampling enrolled 209 patients, aged 18 years and older, PCR-confirmed cases, requiring both hospitalization and HRCT. Age, sex, admission CRP, symptom duration, disease severity at presentation, CTSS, length of hospital stays, and outcomes (death or discharge) were captured. STATA-12 was used for analysis. Chi-square assessed categorical variables' association with outcomes. Pearson/Spearman-rank test evaluated the correlation between CRP and CTSS. Binary logistic regression identified significant prognostic factors, and linear regression determined the association coefficient between CTSS and CRP (3.00; p=0.00). The coefficient established CRP cutoff for Moderate disease starting >= 27mg/L to initiate steroid therapy. Results: Disease severity on presentation (p < 0.001), HRCT score (p < 0.001), hospital stay length (p = 0.002), prior illness duration (p = 0.011), and elevated CRP levels (p = 0.012) were associated with outcomes. A Spearman’s rho of 0.336 indicated a positive correlation between HRCT and CRP levels. Logistic regression showed CRP (OR=1.0051, p=0.003) and CT-severity-score (OR=2.1155, p=0.002) as significant. Linear regression yielded a coefficient of 3.0094 (p < 0.001) for CTSS and CRP levels. The transition from mild to moderate disease occurred at a CRP level of establishing ≥27 mg/L Conclusion: A CRP cutoff of 27 mg/L can guide early steroid therapy to prevent disease progression and monitor therapeutic response.
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spelling doaj-art-1f36450e9cf447429b7b0837d24de3fa2025-08-20T02:11:37Zengziauddin UniversityPakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry2313-73712308-25932025-04-0114210.36283/ziun-pjmd14-2/021Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 InfectionNamirah Iftikhar0Muhammad Osama Rehman Khalid1https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5948-3611Asif Husain Osmani2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0254-766XGulraiz Hikmatyar3Sara Anjum Fazal4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8519-9597Ziauddin University and Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.Ziauddin University and Hospital , Karachi, Pakistan.Ziauddin University and Hospital , Karachi, Pakistan.Ziauddin University and Hospital , Karachi, Pakistan.Ziauddin University and Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Background: The severity of COVID pneumonia depends on the degree of lung parenchyma inflammation. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for COVID-19 and examines the relationship between CRP levels and computed tomography Severity Scores (CTSS). Methods: An observational study was conducted at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton campus, Karachi, Pakistan, from June to November 2021. Purposive sampling enrolled 209 patients, aged 18 years and older, PCR-confirmed cases, requiring both hospitalization and HRCT. Age, sex, admission CRP, symptom duration, disease severity at presentation, CTSS, length of hospital stays, and outcomes (death or discharge) were captured. STATA-12 was used for analysis. Chi-square assessed categorical variables' association with outcomes. Pearson/Spearman-rank test evaluated the correlation between CRP and CTSS. Binary logistic regression identified significant prognostic factors, and linear regression determined the association coefficient between CTSS and CRP (3.00; p=0.00). The coefficient established CRP cutoff for Moderate disease starting >= 27mg/L to initiate steroid therapy. Results: Disease severity on presentation (p < 0.001), HRCT score (p < 0.001), hospital stay length (p = 0.002), prior illness duration (p = 0.011), and elevated CRP levels (p = 0.012) were associated with outcomes. A Spearman’s rho of 0.336 indicated a positive correlation between HRCT and CRP levels. Logistic regression showed CRP (OR=1.0051, p=0.003) and CT-severity-score (OR=2.1155, p=0.002) as significant. Linear regression yielded a coefficient of 3.0094 (p < 0.001) for CTSS and CRP levels. The transition from mild to moderate disease occurred at a CRP level of establishing ≥27 mg/L Conclusion: A CRP cutoff of 27 mg/L can guide early steroid therapy to prevent disease progression and monitor therapeutic response. https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3091COVID-19 Infection C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Severity Score
spellingShingle Namirah Iftikhar
Muhammad Osama Rehman Khalid
Asif Husain Osmani
Gulraiz Hikmatyar
Sara Anjum Fazal
Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry
COVID-19 Infection
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Severity Score
title Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
title_full Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
title_fullStr Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
title_short Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and High Resolution Computed Tomography Scan Score to Initiate Early Steroid Therapy in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
title_sort evaluation of c reactive protein and high resolution computed tomography scan score to initiate early steroid therapy in patients with covid 19 infection
topic COVID-19 Infection
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Severity Score
url https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3091
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