Impact of Symptomatology, Clinical and Radiological Severity of COVID-19 on Pulmonary Function Test Results and Functional Capacity during Follow-Up among Survivors

Abstract

One of the most commonly observed complications after COVID-19 is persistent pulmonary impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of individual factors during the acute phase of COVID-19 on subsequent pulmonary function test results. The study involved 46 patients who were admitted to hospital due to respiratory failure caused by SARS-CoV-2 and who were assessed during follow-up visits at 3 and 9 months after discharge. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the severity of respiratory failure. The severe group included patients requiring mechanical ventilation or HFNOT. The results of the study showed that a severe course of the disease was associated with a lower FVC and a higher FEV1/FVC ratio 3 months after discharge (both p < 0.05). In addition, it has been revealed that the length of hospitalization is a factor that negatively impacts the FEV1, FVC and TLC values measured at follow-up after 3 months. Furthermore, the obtained results identify the presence of cough in the acute phase of the disease as a factor having a positive impact on several PFT parameters (especially the FEV1/FVC ratio) as well as the 6MWT outcome after 3 months. The FVC improved significantly (p < 0.05) between the follow-up visits. The findings may indicate that COVID-19-induced respiratory dysfunction is usually temporary and spontaneously resolves during recovery. Recovery is slower in those who required more intensive oxygenation. The results of this study may be useful in identifying patients who require more intensive and longer rehabilitation after COVID-19.

Quality of Life in Follow-Up up to 9 Months after COVID-19 Hospitalization among the Polish Population—A Prospective Single Center Study

“…Neither the severity of the lesions in the follow-up chest CTs, nor the results of the pulmonary function tests [ 23 ] showed any significant correlation with the quality of life of the convalescent patients. However, at the follow-up after 3 months, we did find such correlation for the outcome of the 6 min walk test (% of predicted value).…”

“…An additional objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between other evaluated parameters, such as the severity of COVID-19, the intensity of lesions on baseline and follow-up computed tomography (CT) of the lungs, 6 min walk test (6MWT) results, and the HRQoL. Another explored area was the correlation between the presence of specific symptoms in the acute phase of the disease (the prevalence of which we reported in a previous publication [ 23 ]) and of the persistent symptoms with the quality of life of the survivors, measured at 3 and 9 months after hospital discharge.…”