Yeah, maybe then testing for this marker could be done concurrently with the PCR test for Covid, and the tested person can receive a warning that they are likel

Yeah, maybe then testing for this marker could be done concurrently with the PCR test for Covid, and the tested person can receive a warning that they are likely to get a severe case - or the presence of this biomarker may even be used to give them priority for treatment with monoclonal antibodies or other treatment methods? The next question is of course: how do vaccines get into play? AFAIK they protect you from getting a severe case most of the time, even if you have this marker/lung damage? Anyway, that's one way having this marker might turn out to be useful - otherwise it only confirms what was already known, that patients with preexisting lung damage are more likely to have a severe case. Of course, patients or their doctors may not be aware of the lung damage or underestimate it, while the marker is more objective...