Scholarlink

Background <p>Long-term pulmonary sequelae following hospitalization for COVID-19 remain incompletely characterized, and few studies have reported radiological outcomes beyond 2&#xa0;years. This study investigated the persistence of chest CT abnormalities up to 4.5&#xa0;years after hospitalization for COVID-19 and their association with current dyspnea and fatigue.</p> Methods <p>This longitudinal cohort study included patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020. Chest CT was performed 3&#xa0;months after hospital admission, with follow-up imaging after 12&#xa0;months and 4.5&#xa0;years in patients with persisting abnormalities. CT images were evaluated using a CT severity score (CSS) on a 0–12 scale, which was subsequently recoded to an abbreviated CSS (aCSS) on a 0–3 scale. Trends in CT abnormalities and their determinants were analyzed using multivariable mixed effects ordinal regression.</p> Results <p>In total, 187 patients underwent chest CT at 3 months. Among patients with persistent abnormalities, 99 completed follow-up CT at 12&#xa0;months and 54 at 4.5&#xa0;years. Dyspnea (33%) and fatigue (61%) remained common at 4.5 years; however, correlations between current symptoms and aCSS were weak. Greater severity of the initial disease and older age were strong predictors of CT abnormalities. Regression analysis showed a gradual reduction in ground glass opacities (GGO) severity over time, whereas parenchymal bands increased and were associated with initial severity as assessed by the WHO 8-point ordinal scale for clinical improvement. Mosaic attenuation decreased during follow-up, but remained associated with the severity of the initial COVID-19 episode.</p> Conclusions <p>From 3 months to 4.5 years after hospitalization, GGO and mosaic attenuation decreased, whereas parenchymal bands increased, with minimal change beyond 12 months. CT abnormalities were associated with initial disease severity and age but showed little association with dyspnea or fatigue.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Long-term chest CT abnormalities up to 4.5 years after COVID-19 hospitalization and their association with dyspnea and fatigue: a prospective cohort study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

查看全文
  • Knut Stavem,
  • Gunnar Einvik,
  • Tøri Vigeland Lerum,
  • Carin Meltzer,
  • Jezabel Rivero Rodriguez,
  • Haseem Ashraf,
  • Sharmini R. Lakxsan,
  • Jostein Gleditsch,
  • Ole Henning Skjønsberg,
  • Trond Mogens Aaløkken

摘要

Background

Long-term pulmonary sequelae following hospitalization for COVID-19 remain incompletely characterized, and few studies have reported radiological outcomes beyond 2 years. This study investigated the persistence of chest CT abnormalities up to 4.5 years after hospitalization for COVID-19 and their association with current dyspnea and fatigue.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study included patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020. Chest CT was performed 3 months after hospital admission, with follow-up imaging after 12 months and 4.5 years in patients with persisting abnormalities. CT images were evaluated using a CT severity score (CSS) on a 0–12 scale, which was subsequently recoded to an abbreviated CSS (aCSS) on a 0–3 scale. Trends in CT abnormalities and their determinants were analyzed using multivariable mixed effects ordinal regression.

Results

In total, 187 patients underwent chest CT at 3 months. Among patients with persistent abnormalities, 99 completed follow-up CT at 12 months and 54 at 4.5 years. Dyspnea (33%) and fatigue (61%) remained common at 4.5 years; however, correlations between current symptoms and aCSS were weak. Greater severity of the initial disease and older age were strong predictors of CT abnormalities. Regression analysis showed a gradual reduction in ground glass opacities (GGO) severity over time, whereas parenchymal bands increased and were associated with initial severity as assessed by the WHO 8-point ordinal scale for clinical improvement. Mosaic attenuation decreased during follow-up, but remained associated with the severity of the initial COVID-19 episode.

Conclusions

From 3 months to 4.5 years after hospitalization, GGO and mosaic attenuation decreased, whereas parenchymal bands increased, with minimal change beyond 12 months. CT abnormalities were associated with initial disease severity and age but showed little association with dyspnea or fatigue.