iarjimphIARJIMPHIARJIMPH2709-331Xhttps://doi.org/10.47310/iarjimph.2021.v02i01.014A Study of Oxygenation Status and HRCT Thorax in “Asymptomatic & Mildly Symptomatic RT-PCR Positive COVID 19” SubjectsSajalMitraDiptiChandSanjeevKumarJawaharRathodSagarKhandareBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact, often via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking. 80% people with COVID-19 develop mild illness, 14% develop severe disease with lower respiratory involvement that requires hospitalization and oxygen support. 5% require ICU admission. A minority of cases (20%) do not have symptoms even with oxygen saturation <94% (“Happy Hypoxia”). They are asymptomatic on presentation and may collapse suddenly. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the oxygenation status in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic RT-PCR positive COVID -19 subjects admitted at Government Medical College, Nagpur. To assess the Lungs in these patients by imaging with HRCT Thorax and to study the in-hospital outcome of these patients. Methodology: This prospective observational study was performed at a tertiary care hospital in May 2020 and June 2020 after taking approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. 62 (35M/27F) asymptomatic SARS CoV2 positive by RTPCR were included in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups - Group A - who had an Oxygen Saturation of <94% by Pulse oximetry on admission and Group B having Saturation >94% on admission. Radiological evaluation with Xray Chest and CT Thorax was done in all subjects. Results: There were 19 (30.64 %) patients in Group A and 43 (69.35 %) patients in Group B. The Respiratory Rate in patients with hypoxia (Group A) was significantly more in patients with Hypoxia as compared to those without hypoxia (Group B), however they were not symptomatic with complaints of breathlessness. On imaging of all patients - 15 (24.19%) patients had findings on X Ray Chest as compared to 43 (69.35%) on CT Thorax. 16 (84.21%) of Group A as compared to 27 (62.79%) of Group B patients had CT finding consistent with COVID 19 Infection. Ground Glass opacities(GGO), GGO with Consolidation & Consolidation with Air Bronchogram in 26 (60.4%), 4 (9.3%), 4 (9.3%) respectively were the most common findings on CT Thorax in the study subjects. X-Ray chest was found to have poor sensitivity and specificity to diagnose COVID -19 infection as compared to HRCT Thorax. Conclusions: 30% of asymptomatic SARS CoV2 positive patients had “Happy Hypoxia”. Ground glass opacities and consolidation were commonly found on CT Thorax of these patients. Xray Chest had poor sensitivity and specificity to diagnose the condition as compared to CT Thorax.