Phosphate levels and pulmonary damage in COVID-19 patients based on CO-RADS scheme: is there any link between parathyroid gland and COVID-19?

BackgroundPreliminary studies of COVID-19 have provided some evidence that electrolyte disturbances may also be present in patients. In this study we aimed to evaluate the role of the arrival electrolytes and symptoms in prediction of Lung damage in CT scan based on the CO-RADS system. MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional analytical study. We included patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection, June 15 to July 7. Patients were included in study if there were no previous history of kidney disease. Demographic, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and CO-RADS High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of lung report were collected. Univariate logistic regression was employed first to identify the effective, correlated items. All statistics were performed with SPSS version 18.0. ResultsIn the current study, 36 (20 male- 16 female) patients with mean age of the 54.7{+/-}17.5 years old were studied. Most common symptom at the arrival was the Fever (52.8%), followed by Fatigue (18%), and dyspnea (44.4%). Computed tomography assessment revealed CO-RADS 2 in 4 (11.1%) patients, CORADS 3 in 1 (2.8%), CO-RADS 4 in 20 (55.6%), and CO-RADS 5 in 11 (30.6%) patients. In the comparison with the study groups based on the HRCT status (CO-RADS II,III vs. CO-RADS IV,V), patients with severe HRCT damage had significantly lower level of Phosphorus (P < 0.01). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that only one factors was associated with HRCT damage status (Phosphorus, P=0.040). Phosphorus upper than 4.5 was associated with better HRCT results with OR ratio of 3.71 (X2(1)=5.69; p=0.017). ConclusionOur study illustrates that higher phosphate levels may be associated with better CT scan of lung outcomes in COVID-19; while hypophosphatemia is associated with severe lung injuries. This could help clinicians to manage hospitalized patients and may link the COVID-19 and parathyroid gland.