The application value of lung ultrasound scoring in assessing disease severity: Evaluation of small‐scale outbreaks of COVID‐19

Abstract Purpose This study explored the use of transthoracic lung ultrasound for evaluating COVID‐19 patients, compared it with computed tomography (CT), and examined its effectiveness using 8 and 12 lung regions. Methods A total of 100 patients with COVID‐19 and 40 healthy volunteers were assessed using 12 regions (bilateral upper/lower regions of the anterior/lateral/posterior chest) and simplified 8 zones (bilateral upper/lower regions of the anterior/lateral chest) transthoracic lung ultrasound. The relationships between ultrasound, CT, and clinical indicators were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound scores in COVID‐19. Results Increased disease severity correlated with increased 8‐ and 12‐zone ultrasound and CT scores (all p < 0.05). The modified 8‐zone method strongly correlated with the 12‐zone method (Pearson's r = 0.908, p < 0.05). The 8‐ and 12‐zone methods correlated with CT scoring (correlation = 0.568 and 0.635, respectively; p < 0.05). The intragroup correlation coefficients of the 8‐zone, 12‐zone, and CT scoring methods were highly consistent (intragroup correlation coefficient = 0.718, p < 0.01). The 8‐zone ultrasound score correlated negatively with oxygen saturation ( r s = 0.306, p < 0.05) and Ca ( r s = 0.224, p < 0.05) and positively with IL‐6 ( r s = 0.0.335, p < 0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r s = 0.327, p < 0.05), alanine aminotransferase ( r s = 0.230, p < 0.05), and aspartate aminotransferase ( r s = 0.251, p < 0.05). The 12‐zone scoring method correlated negatively with oxygen saturation ( r s = 0.338, p < 0.05) and Ca ( r s = 0.245, p < 0.05) and positively with IL‐6 ( r s = 0.354, p < 0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r s = 0.495, p < 0.05). Conclusion Lung ultrasound scores represent the clinical severity and have high clinical value for diagnosing COVID‐19 pneumonia. The 8‐zone scoring method can improve examination efficiency and reduce secondary injuries caused by patient movement.