COVID-19: long-term respiratory consequences

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-19 was first documented in China in late 2019 and was declared a pandemic in March 2020. It has produced death and dysfunction around the world.In Brazil, as of May 20, 2021, there had been more than 15 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 400,000 deaths. Although COVID-19 was initially identified as a pneumonialike illness, its pathophysiology in severe cases can include destruction of lung epithelial cells, thrombosis, hypercoagulation and vascular leakage. These events lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).After one year of the pandemic, researchers are looking beyond the acute illness. Increased attention is being given, with considerable debate, to persistent symptoms and complications that have the potential to impose an appreciable burden of chronic respiratory symptoms or fibrotic disease on recovered individuals. No consensus has yet been reached regarding the terminology and clinical definition of the long-term consequences of COVID-19, but understanding of the issues is increasing rapidly.