Improved pulmonary function and exercise tolerance despite persistent pulmonary fibrosis over 1 year after severe COVID-19 infection

Thorax. 2024 Apr 15;79(5):472-475. doi: 10.1136/thorax-2023-220370.

Abstract

We conducted a prospective single-centre cohort study of 104 multi-ethnic severe COVID-19 survivors from the first wave of the pandemic 15 months after hospitalisation. Of those who were assessed at 4 and 15 months, improvement of ground glass opacities correlated with worsened fibrotic reticulations. Despite a high prevalence of fibrotic patterns (64%), pulmonary function, grip strength, 6 min walk distance and frailty normalised. Overall, dyspnoea, cough and exhaustion did not improve and were not correlated with pulmonary function or radiographic fibrosis at 15 months, suggesting non-respiratory aetiologies. Monitoring persistent, and often subclinical, fibrotic interstitial abnormalities will be needed to determine their potential for future progression.

Keywords: COVID-19; clinical epidemiology; imaging/CT MRI; interstitial fibrosis; respiratory measurement; viral infection.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Humans
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis* / etiology