New Insights on Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Fibrosis: Risk Factors and Clinical Correlations

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) effect on the lungs ranges from an asymptomatic infection to a critical illness with acute respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, or multiorgan failure. Pulmonary fibrosis, as a short-term or long-term complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, is a progressive and fatal sequel to COVID-19. The present study assessed the risk factors and clinical findings associated with post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. Methods and Results: This case-control study was conducted among Omani citizens and residents of Sohar State, Oman, from 01 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2022. The study involved 106 patients with post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (the main group) and 102 subjects who recovered from COVID-19 without pulmonary fibrosis (the control group). Advanced age, length of hospital stay, and the need for mechanical ventilation were significantly associated with post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, the current study reported a significant elevation in total white blood cell count, serum lactate dehydrogenase, serum creatinine, and D-dimer levels among patients with post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated a potential association between post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis and severity-associated markers of COVID-19.