From ARDS to pulmonary fibrosis: the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic?

While the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed the medical and scientific communites since it was first reported in late 2019, we are only beginning to understand the chronic health burdens associated with this disease. Although COVID-19 is a multi-systemic disease, the lungs are the primary source of infection and injury, resulting in pneumonia and, in severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Given that pulmonary fibrosis is a well-recognized sequela of ARDS, many have questioned whether COVID-19 survivors will face long-term pulmonary consequences. This review is aimed at integrating our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying fibroproliferative ARDS with our current knowledge of the pulmonary consequences of COVID-19 disease.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the medical and scientific communities, and there is still much to learn about the chronic health burdens associated with this disease. The lungs are the primary site of infection and injury in COVID-19, leading to pneumonia and, in severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This review aims to integrate our understanding of fibroproliferative ARDS with the current knowledge of the pulmonary consequences of COVID-19.