Radiologic imaging in the evaluation of pregnant patients has significantly grown with the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome related to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Lung ultrasound is an emerging non-invasive bedside technique used to diagnose interstitial lung syndrome through evaluation and quantitation of the number of B-lines, pleural irregularities and nodules or consolidations. In pregnant COVID-19 patients, lung ultrasound should be considered on account of its various strengths, such as its being easily carried out bedside by trained sonographers for the monitoring of lung involvement in follow-ups, and its repeatability and affordability. However, pregnant patients could need chest radiography or computed tomographic (CT) examinations for the diagnosis of pneumonia. Concerns and misconceptions about potential radiation-related risks for the embryo or fetus are still widespread among clinicians and can lead to excessive anxiety among patients. Several well-recognized guidance documents were published in the last years as to the safety of a single-phase CT or an X-ray chest and related carcinogenic and teratogenic risk. This paper summarizes the safety of radiological examination for pneumonia in pregnant women affected by COVID 19, based on the estimated embryo-fetal radiation absorption per procedure (mGy).

Background COVID-19 and obesity are two concurrent, interrelated pandemics that share similarities in their social causes, including racism. It is essential to understand how their characteristics are interrelated and the possible role of obesity in the association between race/skin color and COVID-19 mortality. Thus, we investigated the relationship between race/skin color and COVID-19 mortality and the modifying effect of obesity on this relationship. Methods It is a retrospective cohort study. We analyzed data from 113,737 adults aged ≥ 19 years hospitalized for COVID-19 in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from March 2020 to December 2021. The study outcome was in-hospital COVID-19 mortality. Exposures included race/skin color, analyzed as White, Brown, and Black and as White and Black (Brown + Black), and obesity. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations adjusted for age, comorbidities, and health care. Results The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 mortality was 33.46% (95% CI 33.18–33.74). Compared with White individuals, Brown and Black individuals were 39% (95% CI 1.28–1.52) and 30% (95% CI 1.20–1.41) more likely to die from COVID-19, respectively. Brown women with obesity had the greatest likelihood of COVID-19 mortality (1.64 [95% CI 1.27–2.13]) compared with all other groups. Conclusions Brown and Black individuals were more likely to die from COVID-19 than White individuals. Obesity was an effect modifier of the association between race/skin color and COVID-19 mortality, increasing the risk of mortality in the group of Brown women, after adjustments.