Lung function of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at 45 days after hospital discharge: first report of a prospective multicenter study in Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective: Because SARS-CoV-2 infection can severely affect the lungs and persistent functional changes can occur after severe disease, we aimed to determine lung function parameters of COVID-19 patients at 45 days after hospital discharge and compare changes according to the severity of the disease. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive analytical multicenter study. The participants were allocated into three groups: ward admission (WA) group; ICU admission not on mechanical ventilation (ICU/MV−) group; and ICU admission on MV (ICU/MV+) group. Lung volumes, DLco, MIP, MEP, and six-minute walk distance (6MWD) were measured 45 days after discharge. Results: The sample comprised 242 patients (mean age = 59.4 ± 14.8 years; 52.1% of males), and 232 (96%) had altered lung function. In the total cohort, restrictive disorder was observed in 96%, as well as reductions in DLco (in 21.2% of the patients), FEV1/FVC (in 39.7%), and PEmax (in 95.8%), with no differences between the groups. Comparing the groups, the ICU/MV+ group had reduced DLco in 50% of the patients (p < 0.001) and a lower mean 6MWD % of the predicted value (p = 0.013). Oxygen desaturation in the six-minute walk test was observed in 32.3% of the cohort and was less frequent in the IE group. Conclusions: This is the first South American study involving severe COVID-19 survivors whose lung function was assessed 45 days after hospital discharge. Changes were frequent, especially in those on MV, which highlights the importance of lung function evaluation after severe COVID-19.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Mancuzo,Eliane Viana, Marinho,Carolina Coimbra, Machado-Coelho,George Luiz Lins, Batista,Aline Priscila, Oliveira,Jacqueline Ferreira, Andrade,Bruno Horta, Brandão,Álvaro Lucca Torres, Leite,Ana Sophia Mitre, Ferreira,Pedro Chaves, Roveda,José Reinaldo Corrêa, Leite,Arnaldo Santos, Augusto,Valéria Maria
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia 2021
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-37132021000600201
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