Predictors for COVID-19 Complete Remission with HRCT Pattern Evolution: A Monocentric, Prospective Study.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Concerns exist regarding persistent lung abnormalities, including fibrosis, in COVID-19 survivors.
• High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is crucial for assessing lung injury evolution post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rate of complete radiological remission in COVID-19 pneumonia survivors 90 days after infection.
• To identify predictors of complete lung recovery using HRCT findings.

Main Methods:

• A monocentric prospective cohort study included 635 COVID-19 patients with complete HRCT follow-up at 90 days.
• Patients underwent chest HRCT scans, with data analyzed for imaging patterns and severity scores.
• Average patient age was 54 years, with a mean of 74 days from symptom onset to HRCT.

Main Results:

• Complete imagistic remission was observed in 25.8% of patients.
• Persistent findings included ground glass (86.6%), reticulations (78.8%), and pleural thickening (41.2%).
• Higher HRCT scores were significantly associated with older age (p < 0.001) and persistent imaging features.

Conclusions:

• Chest HRCT at 90 days serves as a valuable tool for documenting persistent lung injury and understanding "long COVID".
• Complete remission is linked to younger age and longer follow-up periods.
• Ground glass, reticulation, and pleural thickening on HRCT indicate ongoing lung injury, particularly in older individuals.