Can lung auscultation be a diagnostic tool in COVID-19 pneumonia?

Background and objectives. Coronavirus has had a devastating impact across the world in 2020. Primary care has played a critical role in caring for patients both those with coronavirus and those with ongoing medical problems. In Spain, primary care has been key in trying to assess patients effectively. Whilst doing this an important clinical sign has emerged. Our aim is to study the role of lung auscultation in the diagnosis of coronavirus pneumonia.Methodology. 95 consecutive patients with a differential diagnosis of coronavirus pneumonia were assessed and followed up. Clinical findings were recorded and cross referenced with x-ray findings and eventual diagnosis.Results. Dry Inspiratory crackles were seen to be a predictor of coronavirus pneumonia with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity 89.3%, positive predicative value of 91.7% and a negative predictive value of 89.3%.Conclusion. Lung auscultation is key to assessing patients with suspected coronavirus pneumonia and the presence of dry inspiratory crackles is a good indicator that further hospital assessment is required. The case study presented gives an example of how this was experienced in the primary care setting.