Respiratory consequences after COVID-19: outcome and treatment

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic represents the infection with the highest lethality, but also the one that has caused the most sequelae and multi-organ consequences, especially respiratory, in the last century. Several actions have been required in the field of respiratory and intensive care medicine to reduce mortality and chronicity. The consequences of COVID-19 are multiple and encompass different physical, emotional, organizing, and economic aspects, which will require a multidisciplinary, transversal, and collaborative approach. This review includes the observations and results of published retrospective and prospective studies on post-COVID19 respiratory sequelae, especially after severe pneumonia with associated adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).