COVID-19 and Interstitial Lung Disease: Keep Them Separate

• Published in: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2020-12, Vol.202 (12), p.1614-1616
• Main Authors: Podolanczuk, Anna J, Richeldi, Luca
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Case-Control Studies; COVID-19; Humans; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - diagnostic imaging; Pandemics; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• ISSN: 1073-449X; 1535-4970
• DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202010-3918ED

Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019, there have been more than 50 million documented infections and 1.2 million deaths worldwide. Our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and pathogenicity and the mechanism by which it causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has evolved rapidly, as have the recommendations on treatment and risk mitigation strategies. The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe disease necessitating ICU admission and mechanical ventilation. Up to 45% of those infected are asymptomatic, whereas approximately 3-10% require hospitalization. Severe disease, defined by dyspnea, hypoxemia, and pulmonary infiltrates, occurs in up to 20% of hospitalized patients and is associated with a high mortality rate. However, these estimates vary widely depending on the population being studied. Advanced age, male sex, and multiple comorbidities all increase the risk of death from COVID-19 (7). A key component of the public health response to COVID-19 has been a focus on identifying groups at increased risk for complications and death from COVID-19 and reducing their risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.