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Consensus Document of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) for Post-COVID-19 Clinical Follow-Up

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Institution
Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR)
Institution Typology
Public Institution
Country
Spain
Description
This consensus document, prepared by professionals from various areas of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), aims to assist the clinical professional in identifying possible respiratory complications that may appear during the months following the acute phase of the disease and to standardize their follow-up and the complementary tests to be performed. It suggests the examinations and interventions to be carried out at various stages of post-COVID-19 evolution, with specific objectives. On the one hand, to ensure that patients receive timely clinical follow-up, with a pre-established schedule taking into account the severity of the disease and the likelihood of long-term sequelae; on the other hand, to avoid overloading the healthcare system by carrying out examinations and/or consultations that are often unnecessary; and finally, to define criteria for referring patients with certain specific established sequelae (interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease, or bronchiectasis) to the corresponding specialized units.
Disease
Interstitial lung disease
Activity level
Low
Activity Typology
Rehabilitation section-based activities, Home-based activities
Motivation Tools
Not available
Innovation
Consensus among experts.
Evaluation System
HRCT (High-Resolution Computed Tomography).
Assessment
The follow-up of patients with severe post-COVID-19 pneumonia and pulmonary complications focuses on periodic assessments to detect and manage interstitial lung disease and other respiratory sequelae. Monthly post-discharge visits are recommended, including symptom questionnaires and treatment evaluation, with imaging tests if corticosteroids were used. At 2-3 months, an evaluation includes blood tests, pulmonary function tests, and imaging studies, tailored to clinical progress. At 6 months, these assessments are repeated if symptoms or abnormalities persist, prioritising early identification of potential complications such as pulmonary fibrosis using HRCT.

References
Sibila O, Molina-Molina M, Valenzuela C, Ríos-Cortés A, Arbillaga-Etxarri A, Torralba García Y, Díaz-Pérez D, Landete P, Mediano O, Tomás López L, Rodríguez Pascual L, Jara-Palomares L, López-Reyes R, de la Rosa Carrillo D. Consensus document of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) for post-COVID-19 clinical follow-up: Evaluation of interstitial lung disease in severe pneumonia and/or pulmonary complications. Open Respir Arch. 2020;2(4):278-283. doi:10.1016/j.opresp.2020.09.002

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