BackgroundAfter the 2002/2003 SARS outbreak, 30% of survivors exhibited persisting structural pulmonary abnormalities. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are yet unknown, and comprehensive clinical follow-up data are lacking.MethodsIn this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we systematically evaluated the cardiopulmonary damage in subjects recovering from COVID-19 at 60 and 100 days after confirmed diagnosis. We conducted a detailed questionnaire, clinical examination, laboratory testing, lung function analysis, echocardiography, and thoracic low-dose computed tomography (CT).ResultsData from 145 COVID-19 patients were evaluated, and 41% of all subjects exhibited persistent symptoms 100 days after COVID-19 onset, with dyspnea being most frequent (36%). Accordingly, patients still displayed an impaired lung function, with a reduced diffusing capacity in 21% of the cohort being the most prominent finding. Cardiac impairment, including a reduced left ventricular function or signs of pulmonary hypertension, was only present in a minority of subjects. CT scans unveiled persisting lung pathologies in 63% of patients, mainly consisting of bilateral ground-glass opacities and/or reticulation in the lower lung lobes, without radiological signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Sequential follow-up evaluations at 60 and 100 days after COVID-19 onset demonstrated a vast improvement of both, symptoms and CT abnormalities over time.ConclusionA relevant percentage of post-COVID-19 patients presented with persisting symptoms and lung function impairment along with pulmonary abnormalities more than 100 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, our results indicate a significant improvement in symptoms and cardiopulmonary status over time.

Background Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is frequently associated with hyperinflammation and hyperferritinemia. The latter is related to increased mortality in COVID-19. Still, it is not clear if iron dysmetabolism is mechanistically linked to COVID-19 pathobiology. Methods We herein present data from the ongoing prospective, multicentre, observational CovILD cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04416100), which systematically follows up patients after COVID-19. 109 participants were evaluated 60 days after onset of first COVID-19 symptoms including clinical examination, chest computed tomography and laboratory testing. Results We investigated subjects with mild to critical COVID-19, of which the majority received hospital treatment. 60 days after disease onset, 30% of subjects still presented with iron deficiency and 9% had anemia, mostly categorized as anemia of inflammation. Anemic patients had increased levels of inflammation markers such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein and survived a more severe course of COVID-19. Hyperferritinemia was still present in 38% of all individuals and was more frequent in subjects with preceding severe or critical COVID-19. Analysis of the mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells demonstrated a correlation of increased ferritin and cytokine mRNA expression in these patients. Finally, persisting hyperferritinemia was significantly associated with severe lung pathologies in computed tomography scans and a decreased performance status as compared to patients without hyperferritinemia. Discussion Alterations of iron homeostasis can persist for at least two months after the onset of COVID-19 and are closely associated with non-resolving lung pathologies and impaired physical performance. Determination of serum iron parameters may thus be a easy to access measure to monitor the resolution of COVID-19. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04416100.

Background The long-term pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not well known. Purpose To characterize patterns and rates of improvement of chest CT abnormalities one year after COVID-19 pneumonia. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study conducted from April 29 to August 12, 2020 to assess pulmonary abnormalities on chest CT at approximately 2, 3, 6 months, and 1 year after onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Pulmonary findings were graded for each lung lobe using a qualitative CT severity score (CTSS), range 0 (normal) to 25 (all lobes involved). The association of demographic and clinical factors with CT abnormalities after 1 year was assessed with logistic regression. The rate of change of the CTSS at follow-up CT was investigated by Friedmann test. Results Out of 142 enrolled participants, 91 participants had a 1-year follow-up CT and were included in the analysis [mean age, 59 years ± 13 [standard deviation]; 35 women (38%)]. In 49/91 (54%) participants, CT abnormalities were observed: 31/91 (34%) participants showed subtle subpleural reticulation, ground-glass opacities or both and 18/91 (20%) participants revealed extensive ground-glass opacities, reticulations, bronchial dilation and/or microcystic changes. In multivariable analysis, age > 60 years (OR 5.8 [95% CI: 1.7 - 24]; p = .009) critical COVID-19 severity (OR 29 [95% CI: 4.8 - 280]; p < .001) and male gender (OR 8.9 [95% CI: 2.6 - 36]; p < .001) were associated with persistent CT abnormalities at 1 year. Reduction of CTSS was observed in participants in subsequent follow-up CTs (p < .001) and during the study period 49% (69/142) of participants had complete resolution of CT abnormalities. 31/49 (63%) participants with CT abnormalities did not show further improvement after 6 months. Conclusion Long-term CT abnormalities were common 1 year after COVID-19 pneumonia. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov number (registration number NCT04416100). See also the editorial by Leung .