Association between ADA (AGE-D-DIMER-ALBUMIN) and Chest CT severity score in COVID-19 pneumonia

Purpose: This study aims to assess the association between ADA score with the severity of pneumonia, as evaluated by chest tomography using a severity score. Materials and Methods: In this observational study we enrolled 350 consecutive adult (≥18 years) patients with COVID-19-related severe acute pneumonia which needed hospitalization, consecutively admitted to non-intensive care unit (ICU) medical wards from March 2020 to March 2022. A standard high-resolution chest CT was performed in all cases with a multidetector CT scanner without intravenous contrast injection, except in case of suspicion of pulmonary embolism. ADA score and semi-quantitative CT Severity Score (CTSS) were calculated for all patients. A linear regression analysis and a correlation analysis regarding Severity Score were performed. Results: 350 COVID-19 patients (154 males (44%) and 196 females (56%)) were recruited. A linear correlation analysis showed that Severity Score correlates with ADA Score, P/F ratio, SpO2, Respiratory rate, pO2, GFR, Glycemia and CRP. Finally, a linear regression analysis confirmed the relation between Severity Score and ADA Score, GFR and CRP (p=0,003) (Predictors: ADA Score [IC 95% 0,041 - -0,402; p=0,017], GFR [IC 95% -0,095 - -0,001; p=0,045], CRP [IC 95% -0,077 - -0,001; p=0,044]). Conclusions: This study demonstrates a correlation between the ADA score and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. These findings suggest that the ADA score serves as an index not only capable of predicting thrombotic events but also associated with the severity of the radiological presentation. Future studies should assess the accuracy of the ADA score using non-SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary tomography scores.