Patients With Post-COVID-19 Respiratory Condition: Chest Computed Tomography Findings and Pulmonary Function Tests and Comparison With Asymptomatic Participants.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to assess the chest computed tomography (CT) findings in post-COVID-19 respiratory condition (rPCC) patients and compare the findings with asymptomatic participants (APs). It also aimed to evaluate the relationship between CT findings and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in rPCC patients. Finally, it aimed to compare the quantitative chest CT findings and PFT results of patients with rPCC and APs.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients with rPCC who underwent unenhanced chest CT and PFTs between June 2020 and September 2022. In addition, a control group (APs) was prospectively formed and underwent nonenhanced chest CT and PFTs. The presence and extent of abnormalities in unenhanced chest CT images were evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively in a blinded manner. We used fully automatic software for automatic lung and airway segmentation and quantitative analyses.

RESULTS

Sixty-three patients with rPCC and 23 APs were investigated. Reticulation/interstitial thickening and extent of parenchymal abnormalities on CT were significantly greater in the rPCC group than in the control group ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Computed tomography extent score was significantly related to length of hospital stay, age, and intensive care unit stay (all P s ≤ 0.006). The rPCC group also had a lower 85th percentile attenuation lung volume ( P = 0.037). The extent of parenchymal abnormalities was significantly correlated with carbon monoxide diffusing capacity ( r = -0.406, P = 0.001), forced vital capacity (FVC) ( r = -0.342, P = 0.002), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/FVC ( r = 0.427, P < 0.001) values. Pulmonary function tests revealed significantly lower carbon monoxide diffusing capacity ( P < 0.001), FVC ( P = 0.036), and total lung capacity ( P < 0.001) values in the rPCC group.

CONCLUSIONS

The rPCC is characterized by impaired PFTs, a greater extent of lung abnormalities on CT, and decreased 85th percentile attenuation lung volume. Advanced age, intensive care unit admission history, and extended hospital stay are risk factors for chest CT abnormalities.