The Role of Pulmonary Function Testing and Lung Imaging in the Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia.
Infection
Post-COVID-19 Interstitial Lung Disease
Pulmonary function testing
Journal
Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
ISSN: 1423-0356
Titre abrégé: Respiration
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 0137356
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2023
2023
Historique:
received:
10
10
2022
accepted:
23
01
2023
medline:
13
4
2023
pubmed:
23
2
2023
entrez:
22
2
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Post-COVID-19 Interstitial Lung Disease (PC-ILD) is characterized by fibrotic-like signs at high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) abnormalities after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is still not clear how frequent these tests should be performed to rule out long-term consequences of COVID-19 pneumonia. The aims of our study were to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of PC-ILD and possibly to propose a long-term follow-up program. One-hundred patients, hospitalized in our ward for moderate to critical COVID-19, underwent two follow-up visits at three and 15 months in which PFTs and HRCT were performed. At the 15-month follow-up, 8% of patients showed residual radiological and functional signs consistent with PC-ILD. All but one of these patients had already demonstrated PFTs and HRCT alterations at first follow-up visit, and the last 1 patient showed worsening of lung function during follow-up. These findings highlight the negative predictive value of PFTs at 3-month follow-up for the development of PC-ILD. Aging, severity of COVID-19, and degree of pulmonary involvement during acute infection proved to be significant risk factors for developing PC-ILD. Our study highlights the importance of PFTs in the long-term follow-up of patients affected by moderate to critical COVID-19 pneumonia. Further studies are needed to confirm our hypothesis that HRCT should be performed only in patients with PFTs abnormalities.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Post-COVID-19 Interstitial Lung Disease (PC-ILD) is characterized by fibrotic-like signs at high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) abnormalities after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is still not clear how frequent these tests should be performed to rule out long-term consequences of COVID-19 pneumonia.
OBJECTIVES
The aims of our study were to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of PC-ILD and possibly to propose a long-term follow-up program.
METHOD
One-hundred patients, hospitalized in our ward for moderate to critical COVID-19, underwent two follow-up visits at three and 15 months in which PFTs and HRCT were performed.
RESULTS
At the 15-month follow-up, 8% of patients showed residual radiological and functional signs consistent with PC-ILD. All but one of these patients had already demonstrated PFTs and HRCT alterations at first follow-up visit, and the last 1 patient showed worsening of lung function during follow-up. These findings highlight the negative predictive value of PFTs at 3-month follow-up for the development of PC-ILD. Aging, severity of COVID-19, and degree of pulmonary involvement during acute infection proved to be significant risk factors for developing PC-ILD.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study highlights the importance of PFTs in the long-term follow-up of patients affected by moderate to critical COVID-19 pneumonia. Further studies are needed to confirm our hypothesis that HRCT should be performed only in patients with PFTs abnormalities.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36806049
pii: 000529441
doi: 10.1159/000529441
pmc: PMC9981778
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
287-295Commentaires et corrections
Type : ErratumIn
Informations de copyright
© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.