TY - JOUR T1 - Radiological outcome of COVID-19 survivors JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA3234 VL - 58 IS - suppl 65 SP - PA3234 AU - Christophe Schepers AU - Walter De Wever Y1 - 2021/09/05 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA3234.abstract N2 - Introduction: The pandemic of COVID-19 infection was and still is the largest in recent history. It challenged health care systems and urged governments to take decision as never seen before. Although its relative high mortality rate, most patients survive the phase of acute pneumonia. The effects of COVID-19 infection on the long term are under ongoing investigation, as well as related radiological findings and their evolution over time.Aims and objectives: We aim to compare the radiological findings on initial chest CT and the findings on a follow-up CT scan 6 weeks later. The main objective of the study is to investigate the evolution of the different CT findings with a particular interest in early signs of fibrosis.Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was performed by pneumologists of the University Hospitals Leuven, a Belgian tertiary care hospital. Adult patients who were hospitalized because of COVID-19 pneumonia between 9th march and 29th may 2020 were selected. A follow-up visit was arranged for these patients including radiological evaluation through high-resolution CT-scan or CT angiography (when increased thrombotic risk). Pre-defined characteristics and CT Severity score were evaluated on these consecutive scans.Results: 140 patients were included. We determined a decrease in ground-glass opacities (62.5% vs 93.1%), consolidations (5.5% vs 47.2%) crazy paving (1.4% vs 6.9%) and bronchiectasis (22.9% vs 32.6%). A minimal increase in reticulations was noted (38.2% vs 37.5%) as well as cavitation (11.8% vs 10.4%). Mean CT severity score decreased from 9.35 to 5.09.Measurements and Main Results: Radiological abnormalities in COVID-19 pneumonia tend to decrease over a 6-weeks period except for reticulations and cavitation.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3234.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -