COVID-19 severity detection using chest X-ray segmentation and deep learning

Abstract

COVID-19 has resulted in a significant global impact on health, the economy, education, and daily life. The disease can range from mild to severe, with individuals over 65 or those with underlying medical conditions being more susceptible to severe illness. Early testing and isolation are vital due to the virus’s variable incubation period. Chest radiographs (CXR) have gained importance as a diagnostic tool due to their efficiency and reduced radiation exposure compared to CT scans. However, the sensitivity of CXR in detecting COVID-19 may be lower. This paper introduces a deep learning framework for accurate COVID-19 classification and severity prediction using CXR images. U-Net is used for lung segmentation, achieving a precision of 0.9924. Classification is performed using a Convulation-capsule network, with high true positive rates of 86% for COVID-19, 93% for pneumonia, and 85% for normal cases. Severity assessment employs ResNet50, VGG-16, and DenseNet201, with DenseNet201 showing superior accuracy. Empirical results, validated with 95% confidence intervals, confirm the framework’s reliability and robustness. This integration of advanced deep learning techniques with radiological imaging enhances early detection and severity assessment, improving patient management and resource allocation in clinical settings.