Post-COVID Interstitial Lung Disease-The Tip of the Iceberg

Namrata Kewalramani; Kerri-Marie Heenan; Denise McKeegan; Nazia Chaudhuri

doi:10.1016/j.iac.2023.01.004

Post-COVID Interstitial Lung Disease-The Tip of the Iceberg

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2023 May;43(2):389-410. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2023.01.004. Epub 2023 Mar 3.

Authors

Namrata Kewalramani¹, Kerri-Marie Heenan², Denise McKeegan², Nazia Chaudhuri³

Affiliations

¹ Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: Namrata.kewalramani@gmail.com.
² Department of Respiratory Medicine, Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.
³ University of Ulster Magee Campus, Northland Road, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK.

Abstract

The proportion of symptomatic patients with post-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) condition (long COVID) represents a significant burden on the individual as well as on the health care systems. A greater understanding of the natural evolution of symptoms over a longer period and the impacts of interventions will improve our understanding of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 disease. This review will discuss the emerging evidence for the development of post-COVID interstitial lung disease focusing on the pathophysiological mechanisms, incidence, diagnosis, and impact of this potentially new and emerging respiratory disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; Interstitial lung disease; Long-term impact; Post-COVID fibrosis; Post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / diagnosis
Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / epidemiology
Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / etiology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Respiration Disorders*
SARS-CoV-2