scholarly journals A Follow-Up Study of Lung Function and Chest Computed Tomography at 6 Months after Discharge in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wu ◽  
Lingshan Zhong ◽  
Hongwei Li ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Yajie Li ◽  
...  

We aimed to investigate changes in pulmonary function and computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the recovery period. COVID-19 patients underwent symptom assessment, pulmonary function tests, and high-resolution chest CT 6 months after discharge from the hospital. Of the 54 patients enrolled, 31 and 23 were in the moderate and severe group, respectively. The main symptoms 6 months after discharge were fatigue and exertional dyspnea, experienced by 24.1% and 18.5% of patients, respectively, followed by smell and taste dysfunction (9.3%) and cough (5.6%). One patient dropped out of the pulmonary function tests. Of the remaining 54 patients, 41.5% had pulmonary dysfunction. Specifically, 7.5% presented with restrictive ventilatory dysfunction (forced vital capacity <80% of the predicted value), 18.9% presented with small airway dysfunction, and 32.1% presented with pulmonary diffusion impairment (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide <80% of the predicted value). Of the 54 patients enrolled, six patients dropped out of the chest CT tests. Eleven of the remaining 48 patients presented with abnormal lung CT findings 6 months after discharge. Patients with residual lung lesions were more common in the severe group (52.6%) than in the moderate group (3.4%); a higher proportion of patients had involvement of both lungs (42.1% vs. 3.4%) in the severe group. The residual lung lesions were mainly ground-glass opacities (20.8%) and linear opacities (14.6%). Semiquantitative visual scoring of the CT findings revealed significantly higher scores in the left, right, and both lungs in the severe group than in the moderate group. COVID-19 patients 6 months after discharge mostly presented with fatigue and exertional dyspnea, and their pulmonary dysfunction was mostly characterized by pulmonary diffusion impairment. As revealed by chest CT, the severe group had a higher prevalence of residual lesions than the moderate group, and the residual lesions mostly manifested as ground-glass opacities and linear opacities.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaying Zhang ◽  
Xinmiao Yang ◽  
Xiuzhi Wu ◽  
Lijuan Gao ◽  
Fankun Meng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: COVID-19 is a new and highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, there is a paucity of data regarding long-term CT findings and pulmonary function in COVID-19 survivors. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of COVID-19 pneumonia on pulmonary function and chest high-resolution computed tomography (CT) in convalescent patients. Methods: A retrospective study of COVID-19 pneumonia patients in the Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, was conducted. Serial assessments, including pulmonary volumes (TLC), spirometry (VC, FVC, FEV1), pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO, DLCO/VA), and chest high-resolution CT were collected 3 months after discharge. Results: Forty-six patients completed the serial assessments. There were 38 non-severe and 8 severe cases. Abnormalities were detected in pulmonary function tests in 17 patients (37.8%). One (2.2%), 2 (4.3%), and 17 (37.8%) patients had FEV1/FVC ratio, TLC, and DLCO values less than 80% of predicted values, respectively. Twenty-eight patients (60.9%) had abnormal CT findings. Compared with patients with non-severe disease, those with severe disease had higher chest CT scores but a similar incidence of DLCO impairment. Similarly, patients who received glucocorticoids had higher chest CT scores but a similar incidence of DLCO impairment than those in the nonglucocorticoid group. Conclusions: Three months after discharge from the hospital, impaired diffusing capacity and CT abnormalities were detected in more than one third of COVID-19 patients. Compared with patients with non-severe disease, those with severe illness had a higher incidence of lung imaging abnormalities and similar lung function impairment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 866-871

Background: Recent evidence has demonstrated the high sensitivity of chest computed tomography (CT) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case detection. However, considering the cost and infection control issues, the experience of chest CT for COVID-19 diagnosis in Thailand is still limited. Objective: To present the characteristics of chest CT findings in COVID-19 patients at Siriraj Hospital and compare them with other reports. Materials and Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the COVID-19 patients’ medical records between April and May 2020. All cases with the presence of chest CT performed during admission were recruited. Clinical data were retrieved from the patients’ medical records. All chest imaging results were reported by consensus between the authors. Results: From 103 cases, four cases with a chest CT scan during the admission were recruited. Consistent with previous reports, the common chest CT findings included a ground-glass opacity and consolidation with bilateral involvement. A round-shaped ground-glass opacity or consolidation was evidenced in half of the cases. The only case with the presence of chest CT scan, which was done 77 days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms, revealed resolution of the abnormal findings. Conclusion: Chest CT findings in four COVID-19 cases at Siriraj Hospital are consistent with previous reports. Common findings include bilateral ground-glass opacity and consolidation. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Computed tomography, Case series


2021 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 109676
Author(s):  
Maurizio Balbi ◽  
Caterina Conti ◽  
Gianluca Imeri ◽  
Anna Caroli ◽  
Alessandra Surace ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Peng

Abstract Object: To investigate the chest CT manifestations of convalescent patients with COVID-19 in recovery phase. Methods: 118 convalescent patients diagnosed as COVID-19 were followed up. According to their medical history, they were divided into 47 cases of severe disease group and 71 cases of mild disease group. Multi-slice spiral CT, high-resolution CT and pulmonary function were examined. Results: 67 rehabilitated cases are normal on CT scan. The other CT findings were: (1) ground glass opacity lesions, including: localized patchy ground glass density lesions; Multi lobes and multi-stage ground glass opacities; Diffuse ground glass opacities lesions in both lungs. (2) The interlobular interstitium and interlobular septum were thickened. (3) Subpleural arc shadow/Subpleural lines. (4) Irregular fiber cord shadow/Irregular lines. (5) Tractive bronchiectasis. (6) Nodular consolidation of air space. (7) Cavitary lesions. No obvious mediastinal lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion were found. Pulmonary imaging and pulmonary function were improved after repeated reexamination. There was significant difference in CT findings and pulmonary function indexes between severe group and mild group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The pulmonary manifestations of some convalescent patients with COVID-19 are basically normal. Ground glass density lesions are the main CT manifestations of convalescent patients, accompanied by varying degrees of pulmonary interstitial hyperplasia. The severe group had more severe pulmonary manifestations and poor pulmonary function than the mild group. With the extension of time, pulmonary lesions and pulmonary function gradually improved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoki Irizato ◽  
Hiroshi Matsuura ◽  
Atsuya Okada ◽  
Ken Ueda ◽  
Hitoshi Yamamura

Abstract Background This study evaluated the time course of computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who required mechanical ventilation and were treated with favipiravir and steroid therapy. Results Eleven patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were included. CT findings assessed at the three time points showed that all patients had ground-glass opacities (GGO) and consolidation and mixed pattern at intubation. Consolidation and mixed pattern disappeared in most of the patients whereas GGO persisted in all patients at 1-month follow-up. In addition to GGO, a subpleural line and bronchus distortion and bronchial dilatation were frequent findings. The degree of resolution of GGO varied depending on each patient. The GGO score correlated significantly with the time from symptoms onset to initiation of steroid therapy (ρ = 0.707, p = 0.015). Conclusions At 1-month follow-up after discharge, non-GGO lesions were absorbed almost completely, and GGO were a predominant CT manifestation. Starting steroid therapy earlier after onset of symptoms in severe COVID-19 pneumonia may reduce the extent of GGO at 1-month follow-up.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7

Objective: To study the dynamic changes in CT findings in COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19, COVID-19) rehabilitated patients. Methods: A total of 148 chest CT images of 37 patients with COVID-19 were collected. In the first 21 days of the course of disease, 7 stages were performed every 3 days, and the eighth stage was performed after 21 days. Results: In the first chest CT examination, 19 cases were ground glass opacity, and 18 cases were high-density shadows with consolidation. The lesion shape was flaky and patchy in 33 cases. The percentage of consolidation, air bronchogram, fiber cord, interlobular septal thickening, subpleural line and pleural thickening were the highest on days 4-6, 7-9, 7-9, 10-12, 19-21 and 19-21, respectively. The highest percentage of disease progression was 80.00% on days 4-6, and then the percentage of disease progression gradually decreased with the extension of the onset time. The percentage of patients with improvement gradually increased from days 4-6, reaching 83.33% on days 16-18 and 100.00% on day 21. The percentage of lesion range enlargement and density increase was the highest on days 4-6, both of which were 60.00%,Then the percentage of both decreased gradually. The percentage of patients with lesion range reduction and density absorption dilution increased gradually with the onset time. There was no obvious regularity in the number of lesions. Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 have regular changes in their lung conditions.


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