TY - JOUR

T1 - Lung Abnormalities in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection

T2 - An Analysis of Paired Computed Tomography Scans Before and After Infection

AU - Iversen, Katrine K.

AU - Ronit, Andreas

AU - Kristensen, Thomas S.

AU - Afzal, Shoaib

AU - Jankovic, Jelena

AU - Kalhauge, Anna

AU - Ahlström, Magnus G.

AU - Nordestgaard, Børge G.

AU - Kofoed, Klaus F.

AU - Benfield, Thomas

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Studies on the pulmonary consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are impeded by limited access to pre-SARS-CoV-2 examinations. Methods: We invited Copenhagen General Population Study participants with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test during the first and second coronavirus disease 2019 waves in Denmark for a repeat chest computed tomography (CT) scan. Paired CT scans were independently assessed for interstitial and noninterstitial abnormalities by 2 trained radiologists. A semiquantitative CT score (ranging from 0 to 20) was used to quantify the extent of interstitial abnormalities. Results: Of 111 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, 102 (91.2%) experienced symptoms and 12 (11.2%) were hospitalized. Follow-up examination was performed at median of 5.4 (interquartile range, 4.1-7.8) months after a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Of 67 individuals with paired CT scans, ground glass opacities and reticulation were present in 31 (46.3%) individuals post-SARS-CoV-2 compared to 23 (34.1%) pre-SARS-CoV-2 (mean CT score, 3.0 vs 1.3; P =. 011). Results were similar for nonhospitalized individuals. We did not detect development of bronchiectasis, emphysema, or nodules. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection in predominantly nonhospitalized individuals with mild disease was associated with a small increase in only interstitial lung abnormalities.

AB - Background: Studies on the pulmonary consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are impeded by limited access to pre-SARS-CoV-2 examinations. Methods: We invited Copenhagen General Population Study participants with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test during the first and second coronavirus disease 2019 waves in Denmark for a repeat chest computed tomography (CT) scan. Paired CT scans were independently assessed for interstitial and noninterstitial abnormalities by 2 trained radiologists. A semiquantitative CT score (ranging from 0 to 20) was used to quantify the extent of interstitial abnormalities. Results: Of 111 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, 102 (91.2%) experienced symptoms and 12 (11.2%) were hospitalized. Follow-up examination was performed at median of 5.4 (interquartile range, 4.1-7.8) months after a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Of 67 individuals with paired CT scans, ground glass opacities and reticulation were present in 31 (46.3%) individuals post-SARS-CoV-2 compared to 23 (34.1%) pre-SARS-CoV-2 (mean CT score, 3.0 vs 1.3; P =. 011). Results were similar for nonhospitalized individuals. We did not detect development of bronchiectasis, emphysema, or nodules. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection in predominantly nonhospitalized individuals with mild disease was associated with a small increase in only interstitial lung abnormalities.

KW - chest CT

KW - COVID-19

KW - lung abnormalities

KW - lung function test

KW - paired analysis

U2 - 10.1093/ofid/ofac596

DO - 10.1093/ofid/ofac596

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36438618

AN - SCOPUS:85145083330

VL - 9

JO - Open Forum Infectious Diseases

JF - Open Forum Infectious Diseases

SN - 2328-8957

IS - 11

M1 - ofac596

ER -