Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 10, 2026 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Medical News: A Simple Score Offers New Insight Into COVID-19 Lung Severity
Doctors have long struggled to quickly identify which COVID-19 patients are most at risk of severe lung damage and life-threatening complications. Now, researchers from Italy have found that a simple calculation using age and routine blood tests can closely reflect how badly the lungs are affected. This
Medical News report highlights how the ADA ( Age–D-dimer–Albumin) score may help doctors spot danger earlier and act faster.
A simple blood-based score may reveal severe lung damage in COVID-19 patients before symptoms escalate
Who Conducted the Study and Where
The research was carried out by scientists from Sapienza University of Rome and Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome, Italy. The teams involved specialists from the Department of Medical and Cardiovascular Sciences, Emergency Radiology, Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Radiological Sciences, and the Interdisciplinary Department of Well-Being Health and Environmental Sustainability.
Understanding the ADA Score in Simple Terms
The ADA score combines three common factors: a patient’s age, blood levels of D-dimer, and albumin. D-dimer rises when the body forms clots, while albumin reflects overall health and inflammation. By merging these values, doctors get a snapshot of clotting risk and disease severity without complex testing.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study followed 350 adult patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia between April 2020 and March 2022. All patients underwent chest CT scans within 24 hours of admission. Researchers then compared ADA scores with a standardized CT severity score that measures how much of the lungs are damaged.
Key Findings That Matter
Patients with higher ADA scores consistently showed more extensive lung damage on CT scans. Those with severe lung involvement were generally older, had higher D-dimer levels, lower albumin levels, and poorer kidney function. They were also more likely to need intensive care and had a significantly higher risk of death. Importantly, an ADA score above 44.5 strongly predicted severe lung findings, making it a powerful early warning sign.
Why This Discovery Is Important
The study shows that lung damage in COVID-19 is closely linked to clotting problems and overall inflammation. Since ADA score data are available soon after hospital admission, doctors could use this information to identify high-risk patients before their condition rapidly worsens.
Real World Benefits for Patients and Hospitals
Using the ADA score alongside CT scans may allow earlier treatment decisions, closer monitoring, and better use of hospital resources. It may also help guide anticoagulant therapy in patients at higher risk of dangerous blood clots.
Study Limitations to Keep in Mi
nd
Researchers note that the study was conducted at a single hospital and included only patients who had CT scans at admission. Different COVID variants and treatment approaches over time may also influence the results.
Conclusion
This study strongly suggests that combining the ADA score with chest CT findings gives doctors a clearer and earlier picture of COVID-19 severity. By linking simple blood tests to lung damage, clinicians may better predict complications, reduce delays in treatment, and improve survival outcomes. Further large-scale studies could confirm its value beyond COVID-19 pneumonia.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Personalized Medicine.
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/16/2/102
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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