ObjectiveTo investigate the value of chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score in evaluating the severity of hip fracture-induced early acute lung injury (ALI) in the elderly patients.MethodsThe clinical data of 289 elderly hip fracture patients in Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from July 2014 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into two groups, including an ALI group (n=114, 36 males and 78 females at age of 82.94±6.85 years) and a non-ALI group (n=175, 51 males and 124 females at age of 84.42±6.31 years). General information, chest HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2 were compared between the two groups. Correlation analysis was used to compare the relationship between chest HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was applied to evaluate the effective extent of the diffuse ground glass opacity (DGGO), intense parenchymal opacification (IPO), and reticulation HRCT scores to the overall HRCT scores.ResultsThe DGGO scores, IPO scores, reticulation scores, overall HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2 were higher in the ALI group than those in the non-ALI group (P<0.001). In the ALI group, correlation analysis showed that DGGO, overall HRCT scores were in significantly negative correlation with PaO2/FiO2 (P<0.001). In addition, the correlation among PaO2/FiO2 and overall HRCT scores was more significant than that of DGGO scores. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that DGGO, IPO, and reticulation scores were independent influencing factors for overall HRCT scores. Among the influencing factors, DGGO scores had the greatest impact, then IPO scores and reticulation scores. The HRCT signs of DGGO, IPO, and reticulation appeared simultaneously had the greatest effects on the overall HRCT scores.ConclusionThe chest HRCT score, which is associated with PaO2/FiO2, also can be used in the severity assessment of elderly patients with early ALI caused by hip fracture.