Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies

Although pulmonary fibrosis can occur in the absence of a clear-cut inciting agent, and without a clinically clear initial acute inflammatory phase, it is more commonly associated with severe lung injury. This may be due to respiratory infections, chronic granulomatous diseases, medications, and con...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ademola S. Ojo, Simon A. Balogun, Oyeronke T. Williams, Olusegun S. Ojo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Pulmonary Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6175964
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850226105805438976
author Ademola S. Ojo
Simon A. Balogun
Oyeronke T. Williams
Olusegun S. Ojo
author_facet Ademola S. Ojo
Simon A. Balogun
Oyeronke T. Williams
Olusegun S. Ojo
author_sort Ademola S. Ojo
collection DOAJ
description Although pulmonary fibrosis can occur in the absence of a clear-cut inciting agent, and without a clinically clear initial acute inflammatory phase, it is more commonly associated with severe lung injury. This may be due to respiratory infections, chronic granulomatous diseases, medications, and connective tissue disorders. Pulmonary fibrosis is associated with permanent pulmonary architectural distortion and irreversible lung dysfunction. Available clinical, radiographic, and autopsy data has indicated that pulmonary fibrosis is central to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) and MERS pathology, and current evidence suggests that pulmonary fibrosis could also complicate infection by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this review is to explore the current literature on the pathogenesis of lung injury in COVID-19 infection. We evaluate the evidence in support of the putative risk factors for the development of lung fibrosis in the disease and propose risk mitigation strategies. We conclude that, from the available literature, the predictors of pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 infection are advanced age, illness severity, length of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation, smoking and chronic alcoholism. With no proven effective targeted therapy against pulmonary fibrosis, risk reduction measures should be directed at limiting the severity of the disease and protecting the lungs from other incidental injuries.
format Article
id doaj-art-50f824e956a542e4926ef5ef450fe05f
institution OA Journals
issn 2090-1836
2090-1844
language English
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Pulmonary Medicine
spelling doaj-art-50f824e956a542e4926ef5ef450fe05f2025-08-20T02:05:10ZengWileyPulmonary Medicine2090-18362090-18442020-01-01202010.1155/2020/61759646175964Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction StrategiesAdemola S. Ojo0Simon A. Balogun1Oyeronke T. Williams2Olusegun S. Ojo3Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University School of Medicine, St. George’s, GrenadaDepartment of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, NigeriaDepartment of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, NigeriaDepartment of Morbid Anatomy, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, NigeriaAlthough pulmonary fibrosis can occur in the absence of a clear-cut inciting agent, and without a clinically clear initial acute inflammatory phase, it is more commonly associated with severe lung injury. This may be due to respiratory infections, chronic granulomatous diseases, medications, and connective tissue disorders. Pulmonary fibrosis is associated with permanent pulmonary architectural distortion and irreversible lung dysfunction. Available clinical, radiographic, and autopsy data has indicated that pulmonary fibrosis is central to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) and MERS pathology, and current evidence suggests that pulmonary fibrosis could also complicate infection by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this review is to explore the current literature on the pathogenesis of lung injury in COVID-19 infection. We evaluate the evidence in support of the putative risk factors for the development of lung fibrosis in the disease and propose risk mitigation strategies. We conclude that, from the available literature, the predictors of pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 infection are advanced age, illness severity, length of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation, smoking and chronic alcoholism. With no proven effective targeted therapy against pulmonary fibrosis, risk reduction measures should be directed at limiting the severity of the disease and protecting the lungs from other incidental injuries.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6175964
spellingShingle Ademola S. Ojo
Simon A. Balogun
Oyeronke T. Williams
Olusegun S. Ojo
Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies
Pulmonary Medicine
title Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies
title_full Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies
title_fullStr Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies
title_full_unstemmed Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies
title_short Pulmonary Fibrosis in COVID-19 Survivors: Predictive Factors and Risk Reduction Strategies
title_sort pulmonary fibrosis in covid 19 survivors predictive factors and risk reduction strategies
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6175964
work_keys_str_mv AT ademolasojo pulmonaryfibrosisincovid19survivorspredictivefactorsandriskreductionstrategies
AT simonabalogun pulmonaryfibrosisincovid19survivorspredictivefactorsandriskreductionstrategies
AT oyeronketwilliams pulmonaryfibrosisincovid19survivorspredictivefactorsandriskreductionstrategies
AT olusegunsojo pulmonaryfibrosisincovid19survivorspredictivefactorsandriskreductionstrategies