Long-term follow-up of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with interstitial lung involvement.

INTRODUCTION

Data regarding the residual lung findings persisting beyond 12 months from acute infection in patients with COVID-19 with pulmonary involvement are scarce. This study investigates the long-term radiological and functional findings of previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients who had residual pulmonary involvement at 3-6-month follow-up.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective cohort study was an extended analysis of a previously published study, including patients with COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized between June 2020 and March 2021. Residual lung involvement due to COVID-19 pneumonia was classified according to the presence of ground glass opacities, honeycombing, traction bronchiectasis, reticulations, and parenchymal bands.

RESULTS

51 out of the 157 patients with abnormal chest findings in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans at 3-6-month follow-up were included. Mean age of the study population was 60.5 ± 10.5 years; 35 subjects were male (68.6%). HRCT controls were obtained 25.7 ± 6.36 months after the diagnosis. There was regression of predefined radiological involvement in 39 patients (76.5%), whereas 11 patients (21.6%) exhibited stable findings, and one patient had progressive lung involvement with a usual interstitial pneumonia pattern. Persistent residual parenchymal bands were found mostly in ICU-admitted patients (p = 0.04), and reticulations were seen in patients with a CT severity score > 18 (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In most patients with pulmonary sequelae, lesions showed improvement after 18 months, with complete resolution in about one third of patients after a 6-month follow-up. There was a correlation between initial severity and persistence of lung abnormalities.