Mapping Organ Health Following COVID-19 Disease Due to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Mapping Organ Health Following COVID-19 Disease Due to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

A prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study looking at patients following COVID-19 disease using multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the degree and prevalence of organ injury.

To date, correctly, all of the Government's efforts have been dedicated to providing sufficient hospital space, and the appropriate equipment, for treating the most serious cases of COVID-19. Equally, enormous resource is being dedicated to developing technologies that determine who has the disease, and who has developed antibodies to it.

However, patients recovering from serious disease will also pose a huge, ongoing challenge. Not only are people with co-morbidities including underlying fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes at higher risk for complications with COVID-19; but patients discharged from hospital after severe COVID-19 are reported to have liver and kidney injuries, and impacts on pancreas and spleen. However, the extent of organ health/damage has not been mapped.

This is a prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study looking at patients recovering from COVID-19 disease using multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the degree and prevalence of organ injury. This proposed study aims to measure the prevalence of organ volume changes and damage in lungs, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, spleen as assessed by MRI among those having recovered, or recovering, from the SARS-CoV-2 infection - participants will have a final MRI scan at 12 months. Assessing the severity and sequelae of COVID-19 in patients is crucial to enable global planning for health-care needs. The study includes up to 3 visits for MRI scans and blood tests over a 12 month period. All participants will receive standard-of-care by their healthcare provider/s.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female 18 years of age and older willing and able to give informed consent to participate in the study
• Recent confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (having been discharged 7 or more days from hospital).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Symptoms of active respiratory viral infection:

  • high temperature (over 37.8C/100.04F)
  • cough (consistent for over an hour; 3 or more episodes in 24 hours)

• The participant may not enter the study with any known contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (including but not limited to pregnancy, a pacemaker or other metallic unfixed implanted device, metallic fragments, extensive tattoos, severe claustrophobia).

• Any other cause, including a significant underlying disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the participant at risk by participating in the study or limit the participant's ability to participate.