Short-term lung effects associated with COVID-19, such as pneumonia, are well-studied. Yet, the disease’s potential long-term effects remain much less understood.

While the 2002 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak showed that lung abnormalities lingered for many years but did not progress, SARS-CoV-2 imaging evidence suggests a risk of progression.*

What The Researchers Did

In the journal Radiology, an Austrian-based observational study examined lung disease development in people infected with SARS-CoV-2. As chest CT (computed tomography, formerly called computed axial tomography/CAT scan) has played an important role in diagnosing people suspected of having COVID-19, the researchers used the imaging tool to observe improvement in lung abnormalities in 91 COVID-19 patients, average age 59 years (56 men) at roughly two, three, six, and 12 months after onset of symptoms.

What They Found

In prior research, the authors had found that lingering impaired lung function and related symptoms were strongly linked to: 

• COVID-19 severity
• Lasting inflammation
• Remaining chest CT abnormalities

Similarly, the authors found in the current study that 49 (54%) of the patients still showed lung abnormalities on CT imaging after 1 year. Among these 49 patients:

• 2 patients (4%) had only outpatient treatment
• 25 patients (51%) had received treatment in a general hospital ward
• 22 patients (45%) had received intensive care

Improvement in CT scans was seen in the first few follow-ups, but 63% experienced no further healing after six months. Those with persistent lung issues:

• Were older than 60 years
• Had severe COVID-19 illness
• Were males

What It Means

According to study co-author Anna Luger, M.D. of Austria’s Innsbruck Medical University, the CT findings indicate damaged lung tissue, “however, it is currently unclear if they represent persistent scarring, and whether they regress over time or lead to pulmonary fibrosis.”

At the very least, the study highlights radiology’s important role in post-COVID management and helping identify people at risk for post-COVID complications. Meanwhile, the authors intend to keep studying the course and role of these lung abnormalities in post-COVID recovery. 

*Radiological Society of North America. (2022, March 29). Lung damage may persist long after COVID-19 pneumonia. MDLinx. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/lung-damage-may-persist-long-after-covid-19-pneumonia/aPr1RlciwTkyBekOul2Bq