Functional characteristics of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at 30 days post-infection

Abstract

We read with great interest the series of cases reported by MO et al. [1], describing pulmonary function after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in hospitalised patients. The authors describe a significant correlation between diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D LCO) and clinically defined pneumonia severity. Lung involvement of varying extent has been found on computed tomography (CT) in at least 80% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection [2, 3]. Extensive injury to alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial cells, with secondary fibroproliferation is a signature of pulmonary SARS-CoV-2 infection [4] and indicates a potential for chronic vascular and alveolar remodelling leading to lung fibrosis and/or pulmonary hypertension. We conducted a retrospective study in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia to assess the pulmonary functional status 1 month after symptom onset and correlate lung function alteration with the severity of pneumonia. Patients under the age of 85 years with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swab) and respiratory symptoms, discharged from

Respiratory function in patients post-infection by COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…One study did not report the gender and mean age of the patients. 23 Five studies reported that between 6% and 18% of patients had a history of smoking, 4 , 6 , 22 , 23 , 24 while two studies did not report this. 10 , 21 Three studies reported respiratory comorbidities, 4 , 6 , 23 including emphysema, 6 asthma, 4 , 6 sarcoidosis, 6 tuberculosis, 23 chronic bronchitis 4 and bronchiectasis.…”

“…Ultimately, seven studies met the criteria for eligibility and were included in the review. 4 , 6 , 10 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 The flow chart of the study selection process is shown in Fig. 1 .…”

“…Six studies were conducted in China 4 , 10 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 and one in France. 6 The designs of the studies included one RCT, 21 three retrospectives, 6 , 22 , 24 and three prospectives ( Table 1 ). 10 , 21 , 23 …”

“… 4 A characteristic of COVID-19 is the extensive injury to alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial cells with secondary fibroproliferation, 5 indicating a potential for chronic vascular and alveolar remodelling leading to lung fibrosis and/or pulmonary hypertension. 6 These findings generate concerns regarding the assessment of lung injury for discharged patients. 4 …”

Clinical and immunoserological status 12 weeks after infection with COVID-19: prospective observational study

“…preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in The copyright holder for this this version posted October 8, 2020. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.06.20206060 doi: medRxiv preprint 6 A blood test was performed in 102 (94.4%) of the COVID-19 patients. Table 3 preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in (13). Likewise, the persistence of diffusion alterations seems more common in patients who have severe pneumonia during the acute episode (14).…”