Background: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is an unprecedented global pandemic affecting more than 200 countries worldwide. The severity of parenchymal lung disease is considered as a major risk factor for mortality. Therefore, it is important to improve its recognition by clinicians, henceits risk stratification and intensity adjustment of care, especially in high - risk patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 220 COVID-19 patients who were treated at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Center Unit run by Hue Central Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Results: We randomly selected 110 patients who had recovered (R) and 110 who died (D) from COVID-19. The radiographic lesion in the D group median TSS was 8 (8 - 8) and had almost complete severity 109 (49.5%) and median recovery group TSS was 6 (4 - 7), and most of them were moderate 68 (30.9%) with p <
0.00001 and p <
0.0001. Lesions on X - ray are often combined and occurred in the following order: interstitial lesions 212 (96.4%), ground - glass opacity 205 (93.2%), blurred nodules 140 (63.6%), consolidation 103 (46.8%), nodular lesions in the D group 96 (43.6%) were significantly higher than in the recovery group 44 (20%) with p <
0.0001. The location of the lesions seen in the D group was diffuse to 2 lung fields patients, while in the recovery group it was found in both peripheral 58 (26.4%) and diffuse 52 (23.6%), not found lesions around the hilum in both groups with p <
0.0001. Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time in Vietnam that a high TSS score, diffuse radiographic involvement, and elderly age increase the risk of death in patients with COVID-19.