Is acute pulmonary embolism a predictor of Post COVID-19 syndrome ?

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a relatively common complication in COVID-19 and is associated with increased mortality risk. However, its respiratory impact after SARS COV2 infection has been poorly investigated. We aimed to investigate the role of PE in the persistence of the Post COVID-19 syndrome. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective study including 348 patients hospitalized in the pneumology department 2 of A.Mami Hospital for moderate to severe COVID-19 infection between October 2020 and August 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to the result of the thoracic angioscanner: G1 those who had COVID-19 pneumonia complicated with PE (n=10) and G2 those who had no PE (n=338). <b>Results:</b> Our population consisted of 187 men (53.7%) and 161 women (46.3%), with a mean age of 57.78 ± 13.48 years. The mean D-dimer level at acute infection was 3607,11 ± 2807.504 in G1 and 2039,19 ± 4269.65 in G2 (p=0,291). Follow-up at three months post COVID-19 showed that patients with PE had more dyspnea (20% Vs 8,28%, p=0,853) and cough ( 10% Vs 9,2%, p=1) and less asthenia ( 10% Vs 22,4%,p=0,681). No G1 patient had chest pain (p=1). Parenchymal distortion on chest CT scan at three months was similar in both groups (44,4% in G1 Vs 41,7% in G2,p=0,877). At six months post COVID-19, dyspnea and cough were more frequent within G1 with repectively 20% Vs 4,43%, p=0,521 and 10% Vs 6,8%,p=0,549. No patient of G1 had asthenia (p=0.591) nor chest pain (p=1). The presence of parenchymal distortion on chest CT scan at six months was not associated to EP (p=0.937). <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study showed no correlation between PE and the persistence of respiratory signs and CT abnormalities at Post COVID-19 follow-up.