Espersen C, Platz E, Alhakak AS, Sengeløv M, Simonsen JØ, Johansen ND, Davidovski FS, Christensen J, Bundgaard H, Hassager C, Jabbari R, Carlsen J, Kirk O, Lindholm MG, Kristiansen OP, Nielsen OW, Jeschke KN, Ulrik CS, Sivapalan P, Iversen K, Stæhr Jensen JU, Schou M, Skaarup SH, Højbjerg Lassen MC, Skaarup KG, Biering-Sørensen T. Lung ultrasound findings following COVID-19 hospitalization: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.
Respir Med 2022;
197:106826. [PMID:
35453059 PMCID:
PMC8976570 DOI:
10.1016/j.rmed.2022.106826]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background
Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a useful tool for diagnosis and monitoring in patients with active COVID-19-infection. However, less is known about the changes in LUS findings after a hospitalization for COVID-19.
Methods
In a prospective, longitudinal study in patients with COVID-19 enrolled from non-ICU hospital units, adult patients underwent 8-zone LUS and blood sampling both during the hospitalization and 2–3 months after discharge. LUS images were analyzed blinded to clinical variables and outcomes.
Results
A total of 71 patients with interpretable LUS at baseline and follow up (mean age 64 years, 61% male, 24% with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)) were included. The follow-up LUS was performed a median of 72 days after the initial LUS performed during hospitalization. At baseline, 87% had pathologic LUS findings in ≥1 zone (e.g. ≥3 B-lines, confluent B-lines or subpleural or lobar consolidation), whereas 30% had pathologic findings at follow-up (p < 0.001). The total number of B-lines and LUS score decreased significantly from hospitalization to follow-up (median 17 vs. 4, p < 0.001 and 4 vs. 0, p < 0.001, respectively). On the follow-up LUS, 28% of all patients had ≥3 B-lines in ≥1 zone, whereas in those with ARDS during the baseline hospitalization (n = 17), 47% had ≥3 B-lines in ≥1 zone.
Conclusion
LUS findings improved significantly from hospitalization to follow-up 2–3 months after discharge in COVID-19 survivors. However, persistent B-lines were frequent at follow-up, especially among those who initially had ARDS. LUS seems to be a promising method to monitor COVID-19 lung changes over time.
Clinicaltrials.gov ID
NCT04377035.
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