The aim of this study is to examine the prognostic role of initial chest computed tomography severity score index (CTSS) and its association with demographic, socio-epidemiological, and clinical parameters in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. A retrospective study included patients who were hospitalized in the COVID Hospital of the Clinical Hospital Center Kosovska Mitrovica from July 2020 to March 2022. We compared patient characteristics and outcome of their hospital stay with values of CT severity score (mild, moderate, and severe form of the disease). Patients with severe disease were statistically significantly older, they treated more days, and they presented statistically significant highest mortality rate compared to mild and moderate forms. Smokers and obese were significantly more frequent among patients with higher CT, while vaccinated patients were more common among those with a mild form. Biochemical parameters at admission also showed statistical significance between the examined groups. We can conclude that by employing the initial CT severity score as the strongest predictor of mortality, it is possible to predict the outcome in hospitalized patients. A comprehensive examination of the patient upon admission, including determining the extent of inflammatory changes in the lungs using computed tomography, the levels of oxygen saturation, and other laboratory parameters, can assist doctors in making an adequate clinical evaluation and apply appropriate therapeutic protocols in the treatment of COVID-19.

The aim of this study is to determine the demographic and initial clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and their importance in evaluating the severity of the disease. A retrospective study included patients suffering from COVID-19 who were hospitalized at The Department of Infectious Disease of the Clinical Hospital Center Pristina—Gracanica from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of 2020. We compared the symptoms of the disease, radiographic findings of pneumonia, laboratory parameters, duration of symptoms before admission, the difference in the need for certain therapies, and the presence of comorbidities between non-severe and severe groups of patients. Patients with a severe disease were statistically significantly older. Hypertension was significantly associated with severe clinical conditions. Radiographic findings of bilateral pneumonia on admission were much more frequent among the severe group, and these patients’ need for oxygen support was significantly higher. Lower neutrophil and higher lymphocyte counts were statistically significant in the non-severe group. Biochemical parameters at admission also showed statistical significance between the examined groups. Based on our research, we can conclude that a complete overview of the patient, including demographic and laboratory parameters as perhaps the most significant attributes, can help doctors in the timely clinical assessment of patients and, thus, in the timely application of adequate therapeutic protocols in the treatment of COVID-19.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between baseline clinical and CT characteristics and to identify factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU) admission in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This retrospective study included 176 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized at the COVID Hospital of the Clinical Hospital Center Kosovska Mitrovica during 2021–2022 (Delta and Omicron variants). Patients were divided into two groups according to intensive care unit requirement: those treated in a general inpatient ward (No ICU) and those requiring ICU admission (ICU group). Demographic and clinical characteristics, lifestyle factors, CT findings, CT severity score (CTSS) values, and therapeutic interventions were compared between groups. Of the total cohort, 113 patients (64%) were hospitalized in a general inpatient ward, while 63 (36%) required intensive care unit admission. Independent predictors of ICU admission identified in the multivariate logistic regression analysis were obesity (B = 2.96, p < 0.001), dyspnea (B = 1.51, p = 0.041), higher CT severity score (B = 0.68, p < 0.001), and lower glucose levels (B = −0.27, p = 0.014). Furthermore, for each one-point increase in the CTSS, the odds of ICU admission nearly doubled (OR = 1.97). Total CT score values above the cut-off point (15.0) demonstrated significant reliability in discriminating the need for ICU transfer in patients with COVID-19. These findings suggest that combined clinical and radiological assessment at hospital admission may facilitate early identification of patients at high risk of requiring ICU care, with the CT severity score representing the strongest radiological predictor.