INTRODUCTION: Most post COVID-19 follow-up studies are limited to a follow-up of 3 months. Whether a favorable evolution in lung function and/or radiological abnormalities is to be expected beyond 3 months is uncertain.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a real-life follow-up study assessing the evolution in lung function, chest CT and ventilation distribution between 10 weeks and 6 months after diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were assessed at 6 months of whom 63 had chest CT at both follow-up visits and 46 had multiple breath washout testing to obtain lung clearance index (LCI). The study group was divided into a restrictive (n = 39) and a non-restrictive subgroup (n = 40) based on TLC z-score. Restriction was associated with a history of intubation, neuromuscular blockade use and critical illness polyneuropathy. Restriction significantly improved over time, but was not resolved by 6 months (median TLC z-score of -2.2 [IQR: -2.7; -1.5] at 6 months versus -2.7 [IQR: -3.1; -2.1] at 10 weeks). LCI did not evolve between both follow-up visits. Symptoms and chest CT score improved irrespective of restriction.CONCLUSION: We observed a disconnect between the improvement of COVID-19 related symptoms, chest CT lesions, and corresponding lung function. While CT imaging is almost normalized at 6 months, a further reduction of pulmonary restriction may be hoped for beyond 6 months in those patients showing restriction at their first follow-up visit.
Stylemans, D, Smet, J, Hanon, S, Schuermans, D, Ilsen, B, Vandemeulebroucke, J, Vanderhelst, E & Verbanck, S 2021, 'Evolution of lung function and chest CT 6 months after COVID-19 pneumonia: Real-life data from a Belgian University Hospital', Respiratory Medicine, vol. 182, 106421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106421
Stylemans, D., Smet, J., Hanon, S., Schuermans, D., Ilsen, B., Vandemeulebroucke, J., Vanderhelst, E., & Verbanck, S. (2021). Evolution of lung function and chest CT 6 months after COVID-19 pneumonia: Real-life data from a Belgian University Hospital. Respiratory Medicine, 182, Article 106421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106421
@article{992a200872354dfcadab4e1a7a4f3cd0,
title = "Evolution of lung function and chest CT 6 months after COVID-19 pneumonia: Real-life data from a Belgian University Hospital",
abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Most post COVID-19 follow-up studies are limited to a follow-up of 3 months. Whether a favorable evolution in lung function and/or radiological abnormalities is to be expected beyond 3 months is uncertain.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a real-life follow-up study assessing the evolution in lung function, chest CT and ventilation distribution between 10 weeks and 6 months after diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were assessed at 6 months of whom 63 had chest CT at both follow-up visits and 46 had multiple breath washout testing to obtain lung clearance index (LCI). The study group was divided into a restrictive (n = 39) and a non-restrictive subgroup (n = 40) based on TLC z-score. Restriction was associated with a history of intubation, neuromuscular blockade use and critical illness polyneuropathy. Restriction significantly improved over time, but was not resolved by 6 months (median TLC z-score of -2.2 [IQR: -2.7; -1.5] at 6 months versus -2.7 [IQR: -3.1; -2.1] at 10 weeks). LCI did not evolve between both follow-up visits. Symptoms and chest CT score improved irrespective of restriction.CONCLUSION: We observed a disconnect between the improvement of COVID-19 related symptoms, chest CT lesions, and corresponding lung function. While CT imaging is almost normalized at 6 months, a further reduction of pulmonary restriction may be hoped for beyond 6 months in those patients showing restriction at their first follow-up visit.",
keywords = "Belgium/epidemiology, COVID-19/diagnosis, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Lung/diagnostic imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Pandemics, Respiratory Function Tests, Respiratory Physiological Phenomena, Retrospective Studies, Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods",
author = "Dimitri Stylemans and Jelle Smet and Shane Hanon and Dani{\"e}l Schuermans and Bart Ilsen and Jef Vandemeulebroucke and Eef Vanderhelst and Sylvia Verbanck",
note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",
year = "2021",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106421",
language = "English",
volume = "182",
journal = "Respiratory Medicine",
issn = "0954-6111",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}