The relationship between diaphragm thickness and the severity of the disease in pregnant patients with Covid-19

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between diaphragm thickness and disease severity in Covid-19 pregnant subgroups.

Material and methods: In this prospective study 100 pregnant patients were enrolled. Thickness of the diaphragm muscle at end-expiration was measured using B-Mode US. Hemoglobin,WBC, NLR, procalcitonin and LDH levels were measured.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of diaphragm thickness, and the diaphragm thickness was thinner in the severe disease group (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with mild to moderate disease severity (p = 0.708).

Conclusion: Covid-19 patients who developed serious infection has thinner diaphragms than those who did not. Low diaphragm muscle thickness at the outset of Covid-19 disease, may predispose to poor clinical outcomes. Diaphragmatic ultrasound may be a promising tool to evaluate the risk of Covid-19 disease severity.

Keywords: Covid-19; Diaphragmatic thickness; Pregnancy; Ultrasound.