Study of Cardiopulmonary Complications in Post-COVID-19 Patients at Tertiary Care Hospitals

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 and quickly spread across the globe, resulting in a worldwide pandemic. Although acute COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, emerging evidence suggests significant long-term complications, especially concerning pulmonary and cardiovascular health. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the cardiopulmonary complications in post-COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective and observational study, conducted between August 2022 and February 2024 at a tertiary care hospital, included 493 patients aged >18 years with a history of COVID-19. Demographic and clinical data were collected at baseline, and follow-up visits were used to monitor the cardiopulmonary complications. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: This study analyzed 493 COVID-19 patients, mostly aged 31–40 (25.15%). Severe cases had SpO 2 <90 (10.14%), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores >15 (9.13%), and abnormal X-rays (21.5%). Respiratory complications were common (58.42%), with ground-glass appearance (41.67%) and interstitial thickening (35.76%). Post-COVID-19 complications included fibrosis (52.56%) and cardiovascular complications (32%). Significant risk factors included prolonged hospital stays, elevated C-reactive protein and D-Dimer, low SpO2, and abnormal HRCT ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion: In this study, fibrosis emerged as the most common post-COVID-19 pulmonary complication. While much of the research and clinical attention has been directed toward acute COVID-19, it is essential to emphasize the need for a long-term follow-up, including multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment, for all individuals who have recovered from the acute stage of COVID-19.