Assessment of Lung Involvement in COVID-19 Patients on HRCT and impact of Vaccination on CT severity: Insights from the Second Wave in Kerala, India

Background: COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness and the severity of lung involvement can have a substantial effect on the prognosis of the disease. The state of Kerala was among the most affected in India. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the lung involvement among those infected with COVID-19 Pandemic at the time of second wave in Kerala, India. Methodology: The study was done in 2021 and included COVID-19 patients who underwent CT scan of thorax. The socio-demographic variables and vaccine status of the patients were collected. Results: The results showed that the severity of lung involvement increased with age, with more than 60% of the study population being above 55 years of age. Additionally, unvaccinated patients had more severe lung involvement compared to vaccinated patients, with males being more affected than females. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of vaccination and early intervention in managing severe COVID-19 cases.