Thin-section computed tomography findings and longitudinal variations of the residual pulmonary sequelae after discharge in patients with COVID-19: a short-term follow-up study.
Eur Radiol
; 31(9): 7172-7183, 2021 Sep.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1126543
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
This study analyzed and compared CT findings and longitudinal variations after discharge between severe and non-severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients who had residual pulmonary sequelae at pre-discharge.METHODS:
A total of 310 patients were included and stratified into severe and non-severe COVID-19 groups. Cross-sectional CT features across different time periods (T0 pre-discharge, T1 1-4 weeks after discharge, T2 5-8 weeks after discharge, T3 9-12 weeks after discharge, T4 > 12 weeks after discharge) were compared, and the longitudinal variations of CT findings were analyzed and compared in both groups.RESULTS:
The cumulative absorption rate of fibrosis-like findings in the severe and non-severe groups at T4 was 24.3% (17/70) and 52.0% (53/102), respectively. In both groups, ground-glass opacity (GGO) with consolidation showed a clear decreasing trend at T1, after which they maintained similar lower levels. The GGO in the severe group showed an increasing trend first at T1 and then decreasing at T4; however, the incidence decreased gradually in the non-severe group. Most fibrosis-like findings showed a tendency to decrease rapidly and then remained stable. Bronchial dilatation in the severe group persisted at an intermediate level.CONCLUSIONS:
After discharge, the characteristics and changing trends of pulmonary sequelae caused by COVID-19 were significantly different between the two groups. Pulmonary sequelae were more serious and recovery was slower in patients with severe/critical disease than in patients with moderate disease. A portion of the fibrosis-like findings were completely absorbed in patients with moderate and severe/critical diseases. KEY POINTS ⢠Lung sequelae were more serious and recovery was slower in severe/critical COVID-19 patients. ⢠Complete absorption of fibrosis-like findings after a short-term follow-up was observed in at least 17/70 (24.3%) of COVID-19 patients with severe/critical disease and 53/102 (52.0%) of COVID-19 patients with moderate disease. ⢠The most common fibrosis-like findings was a parenchymal band; irregular interface was a nonspecific sign of COVID-19, and the percentage of bronchial dilatation in patients with severe/critical disease remained at a relatively stable medium level (range, 31.6 to 47.8%) at all stages.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patient Discharge
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur Radiol
Journal subject:
Radiology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00330-021-07799-9
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