While over 600 million people have recovered from COVID-19 worldwide, doctors are still worried that some organs, such as the lungs, may still be affected in the long run. A recent study found that lung abnormalities may still be present in COVID-19 patients even two years after they were infected. This is the first research paper with two-year follow-up data on COVID-19 lung effects.
Researchers from Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, and their colleagues took a closer look at patients up to two years post-COVID-19 pneumonia to assess any residual lung abnormalities (including fibrosis, scarring, thickening, honeycombing, cystic changes, dilation of the bronchi, and more) and changes in lung function. The study included 144 patients who underwent three serial chest CT scans and pulmonary function tests at six months, 12 months, and two years after symptom onset.
The study found that 39% of the patients had lung abnormalities even two years after they were infected with COVID-19, including fibrotic lung abnormalities and non-fibrotic lung abnormalities. Patients who showed lung abnormalities on their CT scans were more likely to experience respiratory symptoms and abnormal lung function. The researchers suggest that persisting residual symptoms and abnormal lung function could be related to the patient’s ongoing lung damage.
While the long-term consequences of chest CT findings post-COVID-19 are not fully understood, the study’s authors recommend that patients with residual lung abnormalities or respiratory symptoms after COVID-19 should be regularly followed up to manage any pulmonary changes and functional impairment.
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Serial transverse CT scans in a 65-year-old man with severe COVID-19 via Radiological Society of North America with usage type - CC0 Public Domain. May use with creditFeatured Image Credit
Serial transverse CT scans in a 65-year-old man with severe COVID-19 via Radiological Society of North America with usage type - CC0 Public Domain. May use with credit
