Study to Understand Long-Term Lung Effects After Severe COVID-19 Infection Tracking Lung Health and Immune Responses Over One Year

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating why some people experience lasting effects like shortness of breath and fatigue after severe COVID-19 infection. The study focuses on people who had severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and those with mild cases who fully recovered. Its goal is to understand the clinical, imaging, immune, molecular, and viral factors linked to long-term lung problems after COVID-19. Participants will visit the Mayo Clinic three times over about a year around 2-3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis. During these visits, they will undergo lung imaging with CT scans, pulmonary function tests, heart electrical activity checks with ECG, and 6-minute walk tests. Bronchoscopies with bronchoalveolar lavages BAL will be done at the first and third visits to collect lung samples. Blood samples will also be collected at all visits to study immune and molecular changes over time. Participants will complete quality of life questionnaires and receive comprehensive clinical evaluations at each visit. Researchers will analyze lung images, lung function, and biological samples to identify markers related to chronic lung conditions post-COVID-19. The study lasts about 12 months per participant, with ongoing monitoring of lung health and symptoms. The main outcome is to uncover traits linked to long-term lung problems following COVID-19 infection.

A Study of Post COVID-19 Mechanisms for Chronic Lung Sequelae