Respiratory complications of COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a high short-term morbidity and mortality, on the long-term, COVID-19 complications may lead to a major impact on the community and the health care the pulmonary sequelae are expected to rise significantly in the future. The lungs are the main organs affected by COVID-19. A wide variety of long-term respiratory complications secondary to COVID-19 have been described ranging from persistent symptoms and radiological changes to an impaired respiratory physiology, vascular complications and pulmonary fibrosis. Despite all of that, the respiratory sequalae post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been fully explored until now. Furthermore, the main treatment for most of the COVID-19 respiratory complications is still symptomatic and supportive care. In this review article we shed the light on the post COVID-19 complications based on the latest available evidence, focusing on pulmonary fibrosis, treatment directions, and recommendations to the physicians.