[Guide for follow-up of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Management proposals developed by the French-language Respiratory Medicine Society. Version of 10 May 2020]

ABSTRACT

The French-language Respiratory Medicine Society proposes a guide for the follow-up of patients who have presented with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The proposals are based on known data from previous epidemics, on acute lesions observed in SARS-CoV-2 patients and on expert opinion. This guide proposes a follow-up based on three categories of patients 1) patients managed outside hospital for possible or proven SARS-CoV-2 infection, referred by their physician for persistent dyspnoea;2) patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in a medical unit;3) patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in an intensive care unit. The subsequent follow-up will have to be adapted to the initial assessment. This guide emphasises the possibility of others causes of dyspnoea (cardiac, thromboembolic, hyperventilation syndrome..). These proposals may evolve over time as more knowledge becomes available.