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Rofo 2025; 197(02): 163-171
DOI: 10.1055/a-2293-8132
Chest

Prevalence and prognostic role of thoracic lymphadenopathy in Covid-19

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RACOON Study Group
Supported by: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung Funded by “NUM 2.0” (FKZ: 01KX2121)
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Abstract

Purpose The prevalent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread throughout the world and is considered a serious threat to global health. The prognostic role of thoracic lymphadenopathy in COVID-19 is unclear. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to analyze the prognostic role of thoracic lymphadenopathy for the prediction of 30-day mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Materials and Methods The MEDLINE library, Cochrane, and SCOPUS databases were screened for associations between CT-defined features and mortality in COVID-19 patients up to June 2021. In total, 21 studies were included in the present analysis. The quality of the included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Heterogeneity was calculated by means of the inconsistency index I2. DerSimonian and Laird random-effect models with inverse variance weights were performed without any further correction.

Results The included studies comprised 4621 patients. The prevalence of thoracic lymphadenopathy varied between 1 % and 73.4 %. The pooled prevalence was 16.7 %, 95 % CI = (15.6 %; 17.8 %). The hospital mortality was higher in patients with thoracic lymphadenopathy (34.7 %) than in patients without (20.0 %). The pooled odds ratio for the influence of thoracic lymphadenopathy on mortality was 2.13 (95 % CI = [1.80–2.52], p < 0.001).

Conclusion The prevalence of thoracic lymphadenopathy in COVID-19 is 16.7 %. The presence of thoracic lymphadenopathy is associated with an approximately twofold increase in the risk for hospital mortality in COVID-19.

Key Points 

  • The prevalence of lymphadenopathy in COVID-19 is 16.7 %.

  • Patients with lymphadenopathy in COVID-19 have a higher risk of mortality during hospitalization.

  • Lymphadenopathy nearly doubles mortality and plays an important prognostic role.

Citation Format

  • Bucher AM, Sieren M, Meinel F et al. Prevalence and prognostic role of thoracic lymphadenopathy in Covid-19. Rofo 2025; 197: 163 – 171

Keywords

mediastinum - thorax - CT - infection - COVID-19 - meta-analysis


Publication History

Received: 04 January 2024

Accepted: 15 March 2024

Article published online:
22 July 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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