CT abnormalities 3 and 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19 and association with disease severity: A...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• COVID-19 hospitalization can lead to persistent lung abnormalities.
• Understanding the temporal evolution of these changes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in chest CT findings from 3 to 12 months post-hospitalization for COVID-19.
• To identify associations between these CT changes and initial disease severity.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal cohort study of COVID-19 patients.
• Chest CT scans analyzed at 3 and 12 months using a CT severity score (CSS).
• Multivariable regression analyzed determinants of abbreviated CSS.

Main Results:

• Ground-glass opacities (GGO) and mosaicism decreased significantly between 3 and 12 months.
• Parenchymal bands increased over the same period.
• Persistent GGO at 12 months associated with higher initial COVID-19 severity (WHO category 5-7) and age ≥60.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 related lung abnormalities evolve over 12 months.
• Initial disease severity and patient age are key factors in persistent GGO.