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An important gap in our understanding of the postacute course of SARS-CoV-2 infection is whether COVID-19 pneumonia can trigger pulmonary fibrosis. In this descriptive study of 84 Italian patients (mean age, 61) who were hospitalized with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 pneumonia from March 2020 to July 2021, researchers reviewed computed tomography (CT) scans performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after diagnosis. Patients with preexisting interstitial lung disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and critical illness were excluded. All patients required at least low-flow supplemental oxygen and received glucocorticoids and prophylactic anticoagulation; one quarter received remdesivir.
At 6 months, 40% of patients had normal CT scans, but 93% ha…