Ozcan, ErkanYavuzer, SerapBorku Uysal, BetulIslamoglu, Mehmet SamiIkitimur, HandeUnal, Omer FarukAkpinar, Yunus Emre2024-06-122024-06-1220211473-71591744-8352https://doi.org/10.1080/14737159.2021.1882305https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14551/20189Introduction: This study aimed to assess the correlation between nucleic acid amplification test (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR) positivity of patients presenting with suspected COVID-19 and pneumonic infiltration consistent with COVID-19-specific pneumonia diagnosis on thoracic computed tomography (CT), with symptoms, laboratory findings, and clinical progression. Methods: The study included 286 patients (female:male 131:155; mean age, 53.3 +/- 17.9 years) who were divided into two groups according to their RT-PCR test results. The symptoms, laboratory examinations, clinical findings, and thoracic CT imaging of the patients were evaluated. Results: While the physical examination, comorbidities, and total CT scores were similar between the groups, taste/smell abnormalities were observed more frequently in the PCR-positive group. The use of moxifloxacin, lopinavir/ritonavir, and tocilizumab was higher in the PCR-positive group (p = 0.016, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). The duration of hospitalization, intensive care requirement, and mortality rate of the studied groups did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Among patients presenting with suspected COVID-19 and pneumonic infiltration consistent with COVID-19 on thoracic CT, the symptoms, physical examination, total CT scores, duration of hospitalization, intensive care requirement, and mortality rate were similar between RT-PCR-positive and RT-PCR-negative patients. However, PCR-positive patients appeared to require more specific treatments.en10.1080/14737159.2021.1882305info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCOVID-19SARS Cov-2COVID-19 RT-PCRPneumoniaCtArticle212245250Q1WOS:0006162274000012-s2.0-8510080990533496627Q1