Objective It was aimed to evaluate long‐term radiological changes in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients, to investigate pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and health‐related quality of life results. Methods Sixty‐five patients with severe COVID‐19 pneumonia were evaluated in the sixth month after discharge from the hospital. Spirometry, 6 min walking test (6MWT), and short form of health‐related quality of life scale (SF‐36) were applied in the sixth month. Chest computed tomography (CT) was performed and the findings were grouped according to lung involvement. Results Forty‐nine male and 16 female patients were included in the study. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)% values of 18 patients (30.5%), forced vital capacity (FVC)% values of 27 patients (45.8%), and 6MWT of 13 patients (23.2%) were found lower than expected in the sixth month. On the SF‐36 scale, physical function, energy‐vitality, social functionality, pain, and general health parameters were found lower than normal. Minimal interstitial changes in chest CT were seen in 26 patients. Nine patients had lung area involvement between 10% and 50% of the surface, there was a correlation between FEV1% and FVC% values in this group. There was severe pulmonary fibrosis in four patients. There was a correlation between pulmonary function and physical function and general perception of health from SF‐36 scale subparameters. Conclusion Functional and radiological abnormalities were detected in a significant number of patients in the sixth month after severe COVID‐19 pneumonia. A systematic monitoring plan must be established to assess and properly manage the long‐term problems that may arise.

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic disease which may cause end organ damage. Objectives In this study, we aimed to investigate the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness changes in patients with COPD. Methods The right eyes of 35 patients with COPD and 35 healthy controls were evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). RPC density values and RNFL thicknesses were measured and compared. Results The mean inside disc vascular density and the mean peripapillary vascular density values were lower in the COPD group (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). When the peripapillary area was evaluated independently as eight different quadrants, the RPC density values were lower in the COPD group in all of the quadrants except superotemporal and temporal superior quadrants. RNFL was thinner in all quadrants in the COPD group compared to the control group. But this difference was significant only in the nasal superior and inferonasal quadrants (p = 0.03, p = 0.04, respectively). Although, there was no correlation between the mean RPC density and the mean peripapillary RNFL thickness of the patients, FEV1 values for all patients were found to be correlated with the mean peripapillary RPC density (r = 0.406, p = 0.015). Conclusion OCTA may have a potential to be used in the follow‐up of COPD patients.

Objectives: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 infection spreads rapidly around the world. The blood groups are recognized to influence susceptibility to certain viruses. The aim of this research was to determine any potential role of the patients' ABO and Rh blood groups in both the acquisition and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 . As a growing global health problem, to find any marker for COVID-19 may help to identify high-risk individuals and ease the strain on health system. Methods: The patients who were hospitalized between March and August 2020 with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and had a documented ABO blood type in medical database were examined retrospectively. Patients were grouped as survivors (followed up in pandemic wards /or intensive care unit [ICU]) and non-survivors. Their ABO blood types were correlated with general population's blood types. The labaratory findings of patients were evaluated according to the blood types. Results: A total of 492 patients included, 233 (47.4%) were male. The mean age was 58.9±17.5. Data of ABO blood groups of 51966 individuals in general population was used as a control group; the number of the patients in Rh (-) blood type 0, were significantly lower than the control group (p=0.008). Among the whole patient group (survivors and non-survivors), Blood type A 210 (42%) was the most common and type AB 52 (10%) was the least common. However, no statistically significant difference was noted between survivors (pandemic wards/ICU) and non-survivors unlike the previous studies (p=0.514). No correlation was found between laboratory findings (Hemoglobin, red cell distribution width, platelet, white blood cell, lymphocyte, D-Dimer, C-reactive protein, ferritin) and ABO blood groups of COVID-19 patients (p>0.05). Conclusion:There was no association found between the ABO blood type and COVID-19 infection rate or disease severity. No evidence was noted to support the use of ABO blood type as a marker for COVID-19. Further efforts are warranted to better predict outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

This study demonstrated that the widening of the nasal passage after the reduction of the inferior turbinate size had a favorable effect on the pulmonary function tests.