Long-term Changes in Pulmonary Function Among Patients Surviving to COVID-19 Pneumonia

Overview

Journal Infection

Date 2021 Oct 15

PMID 34652626

Citations 18

Authors

Alessia Fumagalli

Clementina Misuraca

Achille Bianchi

Noemi Borsa

Simone Limonta

Sveva Maggiolini

Daniela Rita Bonardi

Andrea Corsonello

Mirko Di Rosa

Luca Soraci

Fabrizia Lattanzio

Daniele Colombo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess respiratory function at the time of clinical recovery, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after discharge in patients surviving to COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: Our case series consisted of 13 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Results: Baseline pulmonary function tests were 55.7 ± 15.6 for FEV1%, 68.6 ± 16.0 for FVC%, and 1.2 ± 0.1 for FEV1/FVC%. Although pulmonary function showed a small improvement after 6 weeks, patients experienced a more significant improvement after 6 and 12 months in FEV1% (95.4 ± 13.7 and 107.2 ± 16.5, respectively; p < 0.001), FVC% (91.3 ± 14.5, and 105.9 ± 15.6, respectively; p < 0.001), and FEV1/FVC% values (1.04 ± 0.04, and 1.01 ± 0.05, respectively; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia may result in significant alterations in lung function, with a mainly restrictive pattern, partly persisting at 6 weeks after recovery from acute phase, but significantly improving during a 12-month follow-up period.

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