Patterns and predictors of post COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an illness by the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mainly impacting the lungs to different degrees. Purpose Investigation the symptoms of post-COVID-19 sequelae in patients aged ≥ 18 years, with pulmonary manifestations as interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary vascular disease, airway disease, and pleural disorders. Methods This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 116 participants with validated COVID-19 tests by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). History taking, medical examination, laboratory tests, pulmonary function evaluation, oxygen saturation test, computed tomography (CT) chest assessment, cardiac analyses, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram were performed. Results The mean age was 50.66 ± 30.07 years, and 68 (58.62%) participants were male. The most common reported symptoms were cough and chest pain, each occurring in 71 (61.21%) patients, followed by dyspnea in 53 (45.69%) participants. On chest CT, fibrosis with air trapping was the most frequently observed finding, occurring in 27 (23.28%) participants, followed by wedge-shaped lesions in 25 (21.55%), bilateral ground-glass opacities in 19 (16.38%), and subpleural reticulations in 18 (15.52%). Myocarditis was the most frequent post-COVID-19 complication, occurring in 42 (36.2%) participants, followed by ILD. In 18 (15.52%) patients and organizing pneumonia in 15 (12.9%) participants. Pulmonary embolism was identified in 9 (7.76%) participants. The distribution of post-COVID-19 complications differed significantly according to the severity of the initial COVID-19 infection ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions Post-COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae, especially ILD, were frequent and significantly associated with greater acute COVID-19 severity, emphasizing the need for follow-up of severely affected individuals.