COVID-19 pneumonia: lessons learned, challenges, and preparing for the future

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral disease that causes life-threatening health problems during acute illness, causing a pandemic and millions of deaths. Although computed tomography (CT) was used as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19 in the early period of the pandemic due to the inaccessibility or long duration of the polymerase chain reaction tests, current studies have revealed that CT scan should not be used to diagnose COVID-19. However, radiologic findings are vital in assessing pneumonia severity and investigating complications in patients with COVID-19. Long-term symptoms, also known as long COVID, in people recovering from COVID-19 affect patients’ quality of life and cause global health problems. Herein, we aimed to summarize the lessons learned in COVID-19 pneumonia, the challenges in diagnosing the disease and complications, and the prospects for future studies.

Patients With Post–COVID-19 Respiratory Condition: Chest Computed Tomography Findings and Pulmonary Function Tests and Comparison With Asymptomatic Participants

“…Some studies have suggested that these findings would gradually resolve over time, but others have reported persistent septal thickening even after many years. [16][17][18] Han and colleagues 9 reported that some participants had unchanging GGOs and reticular abnormalities in a 2-year follow-up prospective study. Another study found that half of the subpleural GGOs detected on CT scans in post-COVID-19 patients contained bronchiolectasis, which could indicate irreversible interstitial fibrosis.…”

“…Ground-glass opacities are nonfibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities, whereas reticular abnormalities are considered fibrotic findings, both of which have been observed on CT scans in patients with a history of COVID-19. Some studies have suggested that these findings would gradually resolve over time, but others have reported persistent septal thickening even after many years 16–18 . Han and colleagues 9 reported that some participants had unchanging GGOs and reticular abnormalities in a 2-year follow-up prospective study.…”

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Severe and Critical Covid-19

“…With its emergence, the pandemic of the disease COVID-19, caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused a significant increase in the number of hospitalizations and deaths, primarily due to pneumonia with multiorgan involvement [1,2,3,4]. More and more vaccines against COVID-19 and new treatments are being developed worldwide [5,6,7,8].…”

“…Зі своєю появою пандемія захворювання COVID-19, викликаного новим коронавірусом 2 важкого гострого респіраторного синдрому (SARS-CoV-2), спричинила значне збільшення кількості випадків госпіталізацій та смертей, зумовлених насамперед пневмонією з поліорганним ураженням [1,2,3,4]. У всьому світі розробляється все більше вакцин проти COVID-19 та нових методів лікування [5,6,7,8].…”

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Connection of the publication with planned research works.The article is a fragment of a research work financed by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine at the expense of the state budget and entitled: "Genetic variants and their potential connection with COVID-19 among the population of Ukraine" (state registration number 0121U107440).Introduction.With its emergence, the pandemic of the disease COVID-19, caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused a significant increase in the number of hospitalizations and deaths, primarily due to pneumonia with multiorgan involvement [1,2,3,4]. More and more vaccines against COVID-19 and new treatments are being developed worldwide [5,6,7,8].

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