Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study
Introduction Considering the pulmonary burden caused by acute COVID-19, questions remain of respiratory consequences after recovery. The aim of the study was to describe respiratory function of COVID-19 pneumonia survivors at mid-term follow-up (median 68 days) and assess whether impairments were pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001347.full |
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| author | Elias Eythorsson Gisli Thor Axelsson Gunnar Gudmundsson Sif Hansdóttir Hrönn Hardardóttir Arnljotur Bjorn Halldorsson Helgi Mar Jonsson Sigridur Erla Sigurdardottir |
| author_facet | Elias Eythorsson Gisli Thor Axelsson Gunnar Gudmundsson Sif Hansdóttir Hrönn Hardardóttir Arnljotur Bjorn Halldorsson Helgi Mar Jonsson Sigridur Erla Sigurdardottir |
| author_sort | Elias Eythorsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Considering the pulmonary burden caused by acute COVID-19, questions remain of respiratory consequences after recovery. The aim of the study was to describe respiratory function of COVID-19 pneumonia survivors at mid-term follow-up (median 68 days) and assess whether impairments were predicted by acute illness severity or residual CT abnormalities.Methods Residents of Iceland that had COVID-19 and oxygen saturation ≤94% from 28 February 2020 to 30 April 2021 were offered a clinical follow-up visit with an interview, a 6 min walk test (6MWT), spirometry with gas exchange measurement and chest CT. The results of these examinations were described, grouped by the level of care during acute illness. The associations of disease severity and CT abnormalities at follow-up with subjective dyspnoea, 6MWT results and lung function test results were estimated with regression analyses.Results Of 190 eligible patients, 164 (86%) participated in the study. Of those, 32 had never been admitted to hospital, 103 were admitted to hospital without intensive care and 29 had required intensive care. At a follow-up, need for intensive care during acute illness was associated with shorter walking distance on 6MWT, lower oxygen saturation and lower DLCO. Imaging abnormalities at follow-up were observed for most participants (74%) and the magnitude of these changes was associated with decrements in 6MWT distance, oxygen saturation, forced vital capacity and DLCO.Conclusions The findings show that impaired exercise capacity and lung physiology at follow-up were primarily observed for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia that required intensive care treatment and/or had persistent imaging abnormalities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:08:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a270c2efcee74c08aef446d6b199479f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-4439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:08:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-a270c2efcee74c08aef446d6b199479f2022-12-22T03:26:00ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Respiratory Research2052-44392022-10-019110.1136/bmjresp-2022-001347Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up studyElias Eythorsson0Gisli Thor Axelsson1Gunnar Gudmundsson2Sif Hansdóttir3Hrönn Hardardóttir4Arnljotur Bjorn Halldorsson5Helgi Mar Jonsson6Sigridur Erla Sigurdardottir7Department of Internal Medicine, Landspitali, Reykjavik, IcelandFaculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, IcelandFaculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali, Reykjavik, IcelandFaculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Medical Imaging, Landspitali, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Medical Imaging, Landspitali, Reykjavik, IcelandDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali, Reykjavik, IcelandIntroduction Considering the pulmonary burden caused by acute COVID-19, questions remain of respiratory consequences after recovery. The aim of the study was to describe respiratory function of COVID-19 pneumonia survivors at mid-term follow-up (median 68 days) and assess whether impairments were predicted by acute illness severity or residual CT abnormalities.Methods Residents of Iceland that had COVID-19 and oxygen saturation ≤94% from 28 February 2020 to 30 April 2021 were offered a clinical follow-up visit with an interview, a 6 min walk test (6MWT), spirometry with gas exchange measurement and chest CT. The results of these examinations were described, grouped by the level of care during acute illness. The associations of disease severity and CT abnormalities at follow-up with subjective dyspnoea, 6MWT results and lung function test results were estimated with regression analyses.Results Of 190 eligible patients, 164 (86%) participated in the study. Of those, 32 had never been admitted to hospital, 103 were admitted to hospital without intensive care and 29 had required intensive care. At a follow-up, need for intensive care during acute illness was associated with shorter walking distance on 6MWT, lower oxygen saturation and lower DLCO. Imaging abnormalities at follow-up were observed for most participants (74%) and the magnitude of these changes was associated with decrements in 6MWT distance, oxygen saturation, forced vital capacity and DLCO.Conclusions The findings show that impaired exercise capacity and lung physiology at follow-up were primarily observed for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia that required intensive care treatment and/or had persistent imaging abnormalities.https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001347.full |
| spellingShingle | Elias Eythorsson Gisli Thor Axelsson Gunnar Gudmundsson Sif Hansdóttir Hrönn Hardardóttir Arnljotur Bjorn Halldorsson Helgi Mar Jonsson Sigridur Erla Sigurdardottir Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| title | Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study |
| title_full | Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study |
| title_fullStr | Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study |
| title_short | Respiratory function and CT abnormalities among survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia: a nationwide follow-up study |
| title_sort | respiratory function and ct abnormalities among survivors of covid 19 pneumonia a nationwide follow up study |
| url | https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001347.full |
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