A study of determinants of pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 survivors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has mainly affected the lungs, including many other organs. Many of the patients later developed pulmonary fibrosis. This study was planned to determine the pulmonary fibrosis determinants in post-COVID survivors. Hospital-based, cross-sectional study done over one year. A pre-designed proforma was used to collect necessary information, and follow-up HRCT and other investigations were evaluated. Out of 87 patients, 41.3%(n=36) developed pulmonary fibrosis; the majority, i.e.,66.6%(n=24), were males. Most of them, 49.42%(n=43), belonged to the age group of 51-70 years, among which 48.83%(n=21) developed fibrosis. Among the study subjects, 57.47% (n=50) had different comorbidities, of which 52% (n=26) developed pulmonary fibrosis. The proportion of diabetes was 31/50, out of which 67.7% (n=21, p=0.036) developed pulmonary fibrosis, while 80% (n=4, p=0.014) of patients with thyroid disorders developed pulmonary fibrosis. A total of 27 patients were treated in ICU, out of which 66.67% (n=18) developed pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis developed more when steroids were not used on 9/19, 47% (n=9), compared to those where steroids were used on 27/68, 39.7% (n=27). Most patients, i.e.,>90% fibrotic, had raised inflammatory markers. About half of the survivors had post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. This study emphasized the relationship between pulmonary fibrosis and many factors, such as age, comorbidities, ICU admission, steroid usage, inflammatory markers, and secondary infections.