Relación entre alteraciones de la tomografía computarizada de tórax en pacientes hospitalizados por neumonia COVID-19 y la recuperacion funcional respiratoria a los 3 meses del alta

Abstract

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is an emergent disease, then long term sequelae are still on investigation. This study evaluated the imaging features at the admission to the hospital and then 3 months after discharge of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia and compared findings with functional respiratory recovery. Patients and Methods: Prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in “Hospital Naval Almirante Nef”, Viña del Mar Chile. Imaging evolution and respiratory function were analyzed after 3 months discharge. All the imagens were reviewed by an expert radiologist, who identified a predominant pattern and defined an extension score previously validated. These findings were compared with 3 months CT and respiratory function evaluated with spirometry, DLCO and 6 minutes walking test (6MWT). Also, patients were categori- zed in 3 different group, depending on oxygen support: conventional oxygen, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and mechanical ventilation. Results: 116 patients were evaluated, 75 men with a mean age of 60.6 ± 14.5 years-old. The median follow-up was 100 days. 70 patients were on conventional oxygen group, 25 in high-flow nasal cannula and 21 in mechanical ventilation. 3-month CT control showed tomographic recovery > 50% in 78 patients. The mean score of extension was significant higher in the group with altered respiratory functional test, compared with the group with normal results (spirometry 6.8 vs. 4.6, p = 0.03; DLCO 5.7 vs. 4.1, p = 0.04; 6MWT 7.0 vs. 4.2, p = 0.002). Conclusion: 3 months after discharge of COVID-19 pneumonia, patients with higher tomographic score present significant abnormalities in respiratory functional test.