IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF LUNG LESIONS ON COMPUTED OMOGRAPHY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICAL AND PARACLINICAL FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of lung lesions on computed tomography (CT) and their association with various factors in patients with a history of COVID-19.

Method: The study involved 102 patients with a history of COVID-19 (4 to 12 weeks post-infection) who presented with respiratory symptoms and were admitted for treatment at the Department of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases at Military Hospital 175.

Results: Lung lesions were identified in 69.6% of patients. Ground-glass opacities and consolidations were the most common findings, representing 41.2% and 40.2%, respectively. A significant correlation was found between lung lesions on CT and factors such as advanced age, BMI ≥ 23, comorbidities, receipt of two vaccine doses, and elevated levels of D-dimer, CRP, and Ferritin. Age, D-dimer, CRP, and Ferritin were identified as independent predictors of lung injury in these patients.

Conclusion: Ground-glass opacities and consolidations are the predominant lung lesions in patients with a history of COVID-19. Advanced age, underlying conditions, and insufficient vaccination increase the likelihood of lung injury in post-COVID-19 patients. Elevated levels of D-dimer, CRP, and Ferritin, along with older age, serve as independent predictors of lung injury on CT.

Keywords: COVID-19; post-COVID-19 lung injury; Long-COVID; pulmonary fibrosis