Post COVID‐19 Pulmonary Fibrosis

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, incurable disease with a lower survival rate than most cancers. Due to the rapid increase in deaths following SARS-CoV-2 infection, evidence of a link between viral infection and the development of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with Covid-19 present with degrees of fibrotic change ranging from fibrosis, to disseminated fibrotic disease after severe acute lung injury.
Objective: The purpose of the study is the management of patients with post-Covid-19 pulmonary fibrosis, with the aim of early treatment of these complications, so that patients can return to their previous lives.
Materials and Methods: This is an observational study. Data were collected from the medical records of 60 patients hospitalized in “Shefqet Ndroqi” hospital, Tirana, in the internal pathology ward, where post-Covid 19 patients are treated, were reviewed. Their demographic, clinical, physiological, laboratory and imaging data were collected. These patients were followed in the period, March 2022-June 2022.
Results: From the 60 patients who were clinically followed for 10 weeks, it was found that at the end of the 10th week, 25.6% of the patients had a significant improvement, 64% of the patients had a slight improvement, and 10.4% of these patients had no improvement. no improvement, compared to their previous condition.
Conclusion: The elderly and those with severe symptoms during the acute phase are at greater risk of moderate and severe sequelae, which require multidisciplinary management, according to the patient’s condition.