Retrospective evaluation of lung findings at 3 months after COVID-19 pneumonia with computed tomography

The purpose of this study was evaluate the radiological findings at the 3rd month after COVID-19 pneumonia with computed tomography (CT). Patients who were treated for COVID-19 pneumonia and underwent follow-up imaging between March 2019 and December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Age, gender, underlying comorbidity, pneumonia severity, symptom onset-admission interval, hospitalization and length of stay in hospital were recorded. Chest CT was performed at admission and after 3 months from symptom onset. CT severity scoring was for each lung lobe in the range of 0-5 (0 no infiltration; 1 5%> infiltration; 2 5-25% infiltration; 3 25-50% infiltration; 4 50-75% infiltration; 5 75% 50 years) (OR: 56,1 p=0,001) and length of hospital stay (OR=1,3 p=0,03) were found to be independent risk factors for the development of residual lung findings. The risk of post-COVID three months persistent pulmonary abnormalities is higher in older age (>50 years) and prolonged hospital stay. Long-term follow-up can reveal how much of the persistent chest CT findings reflect true fibrosis.