Post COVID-19 sequelae of the respiratory system. A single center experience reporting the compromise of the airway, alveolar and vascular components

Authors

Nousheen Iqbal, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Iffat Khanum, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Muhammad Ali Ibrahim Kazi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Syeda Urooj Riaz, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Uzzam Ahmed Khawaja, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Safia Awan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Muhammad Irfan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Javaid Khan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Pulmonary and Critical Care; Medicine

Abstract

The long-term sequelae of COVID-19 have now become more common and appreciable. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause a variety of infectious and non-infectious pulmonary complications. The purpose of this study is to raise awareness about post-COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae, both infectious and non-infectious, in this geographical area. A retrospective study was conducted from July 1st 2020 to December 20th 2020. A total of 1200 patients were evaluated, with 83 suffering from post-COVID-19 pulmonary complications. The patients' mean age was 62 years (IQR 55-69), with 63 (75.9%) being male. The most common co-morbid illnesses were hypertension (49, 59%) and diabetes (45, 54.2%). The majority of them (37, 44.6%) had severe COVID-19, followed by critical COVID-19 (33, 39.8%). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence of respiratory symptoms or duration of current illness between non-severe, severe, and critical COVID-19 patients. Non-infectious complications were observed in the majority of patients (n=76, 91.5%), including organizing pneumonia/ground glass opacities in 71 (88%) patients, fibrosis in 44 (55%), pulmonary embolism in 10 (12.5%), pneumomediastinum in 6 (7.4%) and pneumothorax in 7 (8.6%). Infective complications (25, 30.1%) included aspergillus infection in 10 (12.0%) and bacterial infection in 5 (8.47%), with more gram-negative infections and one patient developing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Post COVID-19 mortality was 11 (13.3%). The long-term pulmonary sequelae of COVID-19 are not rare. Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, ground glass opacities, and fibrosis were common post-COVID-19 sequelae in our patients. This necessitates frequent close monitoring of these patients in order to initiate early appropriate management and prevent further morbidity and eventual mortality.

Comments

Volume, issue, and pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

Monaldi archives for chest disease

Recommended Citation

Iqbal, N., Khanum, I., Kazi, M. I., Riaz, S. U., Khawaja, U. A., Awan, S., Irfan, M., Zubairi, A., Khan, J. (2022). Post COVID-19 sequelae of the respiratory system. A single center experience reporting the compromise of the airway, alveolar and vascular components. Monaldi archives for chest disease.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_pulm_critcare/180