Pulmonary fibrosis 4 months after COVID-19 is associated with severity of illness and blood leucocyte telomere length

Abstract

The risk factors for development of fibrotic-like radiographic abnormalities after severe COVID-19 are incompletely described and the extent to which CT findings correlate with symptoms and physical function after hospitalisation remains unclear. At 4 months after hospitalisation, fibrotic-like patterns were more common in those who underwent mechanical ventilation (72%) than in those who did not (20%). We demonstrate that severity of initial illness, duration of mechanical ventilation, lactate dehydrogenase on admission and leucocyte telomere length are independent risk factors for fibrotic-like radiographic abnormalities. These fibrotic-like changes correlate with lung function, cough and measures of frailty, but not with dyspnoea.

Long COVID-19 Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Its Effect on Various Organ Systems and Recommendation on Rehabilitation Plans

“…Those with a history of moderate or severe disease, with clinically persisting symptoms or with radiological abnormalities should be offered further clinical referrals and investigations [134]. Radiological findings of pulmonary fibrosis 4 months after COVID-19 infection are associated with pulmonary function decline and frailty [135]. The Swiss COVID Study Group and Swiss Society for Pulmonology (SSP) formulated a 13-question screening tool to address the diagnosis and are treatment of pulmonary lung damage in Long COVID-19 Syndrome patients [136].…”

Recovering from a pandemic: pulmonary fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection

“…An aspect of future investigation will be the study of biomarkers and the correlation with PASC-pulmonary fibrosis. Already, groups have identified serum and plasma levels of lipocalin-2, matrix metalloproteinase 7, hepatocyte growth factor, Krebs von den Lungen-6, and leukocyte telomere length that track with abnormal imaging and are inversely correlated to PASC lung function [ 59 – 61 ]. Further research should include elucidating the contribution of relevant acute clinical risk factors of COVID-19 ( i.e.…”

Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome Negatively Impacts Physical Function, Cognitive Function, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Participation

“…Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome can take many forms, from post–intensive care unit syndrome 1 to pulmonary fibrosis secondary to aggressive COVID-19 pneumonia. 2 However, PACS (also known as long COVID) is one of the most troubling manifestations of PASC that has been reported to date. It is characterized by persistent symptoms that are still present at least 4 wks after initial infection and often lasting for several months.…”