Pulmonary Perfusion via Magnetic Resonance Imaging is Associated with hospitalization for COVID-19

Motivation: COVID-19's persistent respiratory effects are well-documented, but the long-term pulmonary consequences, particularly after severe illness, remain inadequately understood. Goal(s): To identify enduring perfusion deficits in the lungs of individuals previously hospitalized with COVID-19, using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. Approach: The study recruited adults post-COVID-19 for a comprehensive pulmonary assessment. Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI was used to quantify lung perfusion and relating them to COVID-related hospitalization. Results: The study found a significant correlation between MRI perfusion parameters and previous hospitalization for COVID-19. It indicated that patients with a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19 might experience persistent alterations in lung perfusion. Impact: Our research, through dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, reveals persisting lung perfusion deficits in post-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, notably related to severity of initial disease. This aids in understanding post-COVID pulmonary sequelae, guiding future patient management and research on long-term COVID-19 impact.