Background: This study investigated patients' long-term radiological and physiological outcomes with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods: A total of 52 patients (26 men and 26 women, 32 with moderate COVID-19 and 20 with severe COVID-19, with a median age of 50.5 years) who had COVID-19 participated in this study. Follow-up thin-section chest computed tomography (CT) scans were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed on 37 patients 6 months after discharge. The clinical data and the chest CT findings were recorded and analyzed.
Results: The predominant chest CT patterns of abnormalities observed at 6 months after discharge were parenchymal band, interlobular septal thickening, and traction bronchiectasis. The cumulative percentage of the complete radiological resolution was 17%, 42%, 67%, and 75% at discharge and 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge, respectively. A subgroup analysis revealed that 88% of patients with moderate type and 55% of patients with severe type COVID-19 achieved complete radiological resolution at 6 months after discharge, and the difference between the 2 groups was significant (P<0.001). The following risk factors were found to be associated with an incomplete radiological resolution at 6 months after discharge: an age >50 years old, the severe type of COVID-19, a hospital stay >18 days, mechanical ventilation, steroid therapy, immunoglobin therapy, an opacity score at discharge >4, and a volume of opacity at discharge >235 mL.
Conclusions: Chest CT lesions were absorbed without any sequelae in most patients with COVID-19; however, fibrotic-like changes and cardiopulmonary insufficiency were still present in a considerable proportion of COVID-19 survivors at 6 months after discharge, especially in patients with severe type COVID-19.
Keywords: Coronavirus infections; computed tomography (CT); follow-up; viral pneumonia.
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