| Tóm tắt: | Background: Mainland China has experienced five epidemics of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus
infection since 2013. We conducted a prospective study to assess long-term clinical, pulmonary function
testing, and chest computed tomography (CT) imaging findings after patients were discharged from hospital.
Methods: A(H7N9) survivors in five provinces and one municipality underwent follow-up visits from August
2013 to September 2018, at three, six, and 12 months after illness onset, and a subset was also assessed at 18
and 64 months after onset. Thirteen patients were enrolled from the first A(H7N9) epidemic in 2013, 36
from the 2013-2014 second epidemic, and 12 from the 2016-2017 fifth epidemic. At each visit, A(H7N9) survivors received a medical examination, including the mMRC (modified Medical Research Council) dyspnea
scale assessment, chest auscultation, pulmonary function testing and chest CT scans.
Findings: The median age of 61 A(H7N9) survivors was 50 years. The cumulative rate of pulmonary dysfunction
was 38¢5% and 78¢2% for chest CT scan abnormalities at the end of follow-up. Restrictive ventilation dysfunction
was common during follow-up. Mild dyspnea was documented at three to 12-month follow-up visits.
Interpretation: Patients who survived severe illness from A(H7N9) virus infection had evidence of persistent
lung damage and long-term pulmonary dysfunction.
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