Pulmonary function and radiological features four months after COVID-19: first results from the national prospective observational Swiss COVID-19 lung study
This is the first European study reporting on respiratory follow-up outcomes after SARS CoV-2 infection.
In this study, reduced DLCO, decreased distance of 6MWT and desaturation during 6MWT were correlated to a severely impaired COVID-19 phenotype, and importantly this relationship was not confounded by age, sex, or BMI.
This findings combined with previous studies support the hypothesis that severe COVID-19 causes a medium-term decrease in DLCO, limitations in gas exchange and a spectrum of radiological features not previously reported.
The study identified DLCO %-predicted at four months as the single most important factor associated with severe/critical respiratory COVID-19 which translates into reduced walking distance and oxygen desaturation on exercise.
These results emphasize the importance of a systematic follow-up after severe and critical COVID-19, with appropriate management of pulmonary sequelae.
Article details:
- Title: Pulmonary function and radiological features 4 months after COVID-19: first results from the national prospective observational Swiss COVID-19 lung study
- Authors: Sabina A. Guler, Lukas Ebner, Catherine Aubry-Beigelman, Pierre-Olivier Bridevaux, Martin Brutsche, Christian Clarenbach, Christian Garzoni, Thomas K. Geiser, Alexandra Lenoir, Marco Mancinetti, Bruno Naccini, Sebastian R. Ott, Lise Piquilloud, Maura Prella, Yok-Ai Que, Paula M. Soccal, Christophe von Garnier, Manuela Funke-Chambour
- Published in:
- Link: https://doi.10.1183/13993003.03690-2020
