Abnormal CT findings may persist for one year among COVID-19 patients after recovery

The key findings of this study were:

1. There were 15 appropriate studies totaling 3,134 participants. 1,495 patients received CT exams a year following COVID-19, and 46.0% of them showed persistent CT abnormalities.

2. In 27.3% of the patients, respectively, ground-glass opacity (GGO) and fibrotic-like alterations were often seen.

3. While the fraction of GGO dropped from the mid-term to the long-term follow-up, the interlobular septal thickening, fibrotic-like alterations, and bronchiectasis did not.

4. Furthermore, compared to mild/moderate cases, the incidence of CT abnormalities at 1-year follow-up was greater in the severe/critical cases.

5. One year following COVID-19, patients who were severe or critical usually showed fibrotic-like alterations.

6. Regarding pulmonary function tests, after 1-year follow-up, 29.9% and 8.0% of the patients had decreased total lung capacity (TLC) and reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, respectively.

7. Severe/critical patients were more likely to have these persistent PFT abnormalities than mild/moderate ones.

In conclusion, the significant prevalence of pulmonary sequelae even a year following COVID-19 should be known to doctors. Because these sequelae might endure for a very long time, careful surveillance and longer follow-up times are necessary.

Reference: 

WATANABE, A., SO, M., IWAGAMI, M., FUKUNAGA, K., TAKAGI, H., KABATA, H., & KUNO, T. (2022). ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP CT FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. In Chest (Vol. 162, Issue 4, p. A311). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2022.08.240