Three and six months follow up chest CT findings after COVID-19 pneumonia

Introduction: Since its emergence in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 has impacted healthcare resources causing a global public threat. His long-term complications are still being evaluated and little is known about the longterm pulmonary sequelae. Method(s): We conducted a prospective observational study at the University Hospital of Gabes. Eighty-nine patients were included. Radiological evolution was assessed at 3 and 6 months from acute presentation by chest CT. Result(s): A total of 89 patients (52% women versus 48% men ;mean age 58 years +/- 13) were studied prospectively. The extension in the initial chest CT was severe to critical in 48%. They had repeat imaging after 3 months. Among those (88,5%) had persistent parenchymal changes residual ground-glass opacification (42%) or interstitial thickening (27%), and 23 (52%) patients developed post COVID-19 fibrosis with CT evidence of fibrotic-like changes : traction bronchiectasis (29%), parenchymal bands (32%), and honeycombing (2%). Six-month follow-up CT was performed in 27 patients and showed fibrotic-like changes in the lung in 30% : traction bronchiectasis (22%), parenchymal bands (26%). These persistent radiological abnormalities in the lung at 6 months were associated with an older age > 65 years (p = 0,03), longer hospital stays > 15 days (p=0,001), and higher initial chest CT score (p=0,026). Conclusion(s): Age, initial CT scan scoring and duration of hospital care were the main predictors of fibrosis-like changes at 6 months found in our study ;further research with prolonged follow-up is needed to provide a better understanding of outcomes for COVID-19 patients.