Egyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis (Apr 2024)
Comprehensive evaluations of coronavirus disease 2019 survivors regarding immunity, laboratory and computed tomography change
Abstract
Background Long coronavirus disease is an incapacitating disease that occurs in at least 10% of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections. At least 65 million persons global are estimated to have long COVID, with situations increasing daily. Patients and methods This is a prospective cohort study done on COVID-19 survivors’ proved by computed tomography (CT) or RCR testing who registered for follow-up at post-COVID Clinic at Family Medicine Department in Zagazig University Hospital through systematic random sampling technique. Survivors followed-up for 6 months by three visits. Results Total 137 adult patients with COVID-19 were included in this study. Mean age of the studied group 42.01 ± 8.28 years where most of them were females (78.1%). As regards inflammatory marker C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and D-dimer were slightly elevated and improving in the subsequent visits but complete blood picture, liver functions, kidney function, cardiac enzymes result through follow-up visits were in normal range. As regards CT change (72.3%) demonstrated abnormal CT in first visit and became (20.5%) at follow-up visit. As regards serology results, 100% demonstrated positive serology in first measurement and 12.5% turned negative in follow-up measurement after 3 months. Conclusion Small percent of COVID-19 patients present with some abnormalities, but after follow-up period we observed overall improvement in all parameters.
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