A retrospective study of 57 adult COVID-19 patients published yesterday in Respiratory Research found significant lung impairment in the recovery phase, particularly in patients with severe disease.
Researchers conducted serial assessments of patients 30 days after they were released from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Zhuhai, China. They found that, of the 40 non-severe and 17 severe cases, 31 patients (54.4%) still had abnormal findings on chest computed tomography (CT). The rate of abnormalities was much higher in severe (16 or 17, or 94.1%) than in mild illness (15/ 31, 37.5%).
Forty-three (75.4%) of the 57 patients had abnormal pulmonary function tests. The percent of patients who had results less than 80% of predicted values was 10.5% for forced vital capacity (FVC, amount of air forcibly exhaled after taking a deep breath), 8.7% for forced expiratory volume (FEV1, amount of air forcibly expelled in 1 second), 43.8% for FEV1/FVC ratio, 12.3% for total lung capacity (TLC), and 52.6% for diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (amount of oxygen traveling from lungs to the blood).
Twenty-eight (49.1%) and 13 patients (22.8%) had maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure values less than 80% of predicted values an indication of weakened respiratory muscles.
Twenty-six patients (86.7%) had mildly impaired DLCO, while the other 4 (13.3%) had moderate impairment. There was a significant difference in impaired DLCO between the two groups, accounting for 42.5% of patients with mild disease and 75.6% of those with severe illness.
Patients with severe COVID-19 had more DLCO impairment than those with less severe disease (75.6% vs 42.5%,P=0.019), as well as higher lung total severity scores (TSS) and total airway resistance and significantly lower percentage of predicted TLC and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD). The 6MWD of patients with severe illness was only 88.4% of predicted values, significantly lower than in those with mild illness.
Most patients in the severe group (70.6%) were men and were older than patients with milder disease. No significant correlation between TSS and pulmonary function was evident at follow-up.
Mean ratio of partial pressure of oxygen (Pa02) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) was significantly lower in patients with milder illness than in those with severe disease. Pa02 reflects how well oxygen is able to travel from the lungs to the blood, while FiO2 is the percentage of oxygen inhaled.
Patients with severe COVID-19 had higher serum lactate dehydrogenase (indicating tissue damage), C-reactive protein peaks (indicating inflammation), and lower counts of infection-fighting lymphocytes than those with milder illnesses. No significant differences were found in values of white blood cells, creatinine kinase (measuring muscle inflammation), lactic acid peaks (measures of levels of oxygen in the muscles), or length of hospital stay between the two groups.
At 30-day follow-up, 6 of 57 patients (10.5%) reported a mild cough, 4 (7.0%) had shortness of breath, and 3 (5.3%) said they sometimes wheezed.
Of 57 patients, 46 (80.7%) had a history of direct contact with Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicenter of China's coronavirus outbreak, while 9 (15.7%) had a history of smoking. Mean patient age was 47 years, and 31 patients were women.
Twenty-one patients (36.8%) had underlying illnesses, the most common of which were high blood pressure (11 patients), diabetes (4), cancer (3), and cardiovascular disease (3). All these conditions were either believed cured or well controlled at testing. None of the patients had a chronic respiratory disease.
The authors said they were surprised that the lung total severity score was not significantly correlated with FEV1, FVC, or DLCO, meaning that impaired lung function did not necessarily reflect severity of illness or changes on CT.
"We speculate that it was because most severe patients used glucocorticoid during hospitalization, suggesting that corticosteroids may improve the prognosis of patients with COVID-19," they wrote, cautioning that small sample size and selection bias may have affected the results. Corticosteroids are given to reduce inflammation.
The researchers called for future studies to include longer follow-up and exercise cardiopulmonary function testing.
More here:
Study finds lung impairment in recovering COVID-19 patients - CIDRAP
- As 2024 Travel Hits Pre-Covid Levels, Here's When To Go To Europe - Forbes - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Comparison of Impressions of COVID-19 Vaccinations Stratified by the Number of Vaccinations Among Japanese ... - Cureus - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health visits in primary care: an interrupted time series analysis from nine ... - The Lancet - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Faith and rehab keep Southwick woman on path to recovery from COVID - MassLive.com - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- China to draw on Covid-19 experience to tackle future pandemics - theSun - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Free COVID tests through USPS are ending todayhere's where to get tests online - Reviewed - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Concern about COVID reaches record low across political spectrum: Survey - The Hill - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- He Had 217 Covid Shots Without Side Effects, Study Finds - The New York Times - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- A Man Got 217 COVID-19 Vaccines. Here's What Happened - TIME - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- German man vaccinated 217 times against covid with no ill effects - The Washington Post - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Andrew Cuomo Faces House Subpoena Over Covid Deaths in Nursing Homes - The New York Times - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- It's been 4 years since COVID hit Michigan. For Long COVID patients, the pandemic isn't over. Michigan Advance - Michigan Advance - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- 4th Anniversary of the Covid-19 Pandemic - erienewsnow.com - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Reflecting on 4 years of the COVID-19 pandemic and discussing what's to come - WBUR News - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- CDC shortens 5-day COVID isolation, updates guidance on masks and testing in new 2024 recommendations - CBS News - March 10th, 2024 [March 10th, 2024]
- Father, daughter convicted in fraud related to COVID-19 relief - The Cincinnati Enquirer - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Supreme Court to weigh whether Covid misinformation is protected speech - STAT - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Oklahoma leads country in long Covid - 2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- MCFR firefighter dies after battle with COVID-19 - WCJB - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Audio-based AI classifiers show no evidence of improved COVID-19 screening over simple symptoms checkers - Nature.com - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Hidden death toll of COVID-19 pandemic revealed - Earth.com - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Switching arms improves effectiveness of two-dose vaccinations, OHSU study suggests - OHSU News - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Tributes paid to Irish health official 'central' to EU Covid-19 response - The Irish Times - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Court: Not wearing mask during COVID-19 health emergency isn't protected speech - Honolulu Star-Advertiser - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- One arm or two? How you get vaccinated may make a difference - The Seattle Times - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- 70% of kindergarteners didn't pass readiness test in pandemic, study estimates - University of Minnesota Twin Cities - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- USS Theodore Roosevelt sailors roam free on Guam for first time since COVID-19 outbreak - Stars and Stripes - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Pandemic linked to 14% increase in underweight children in India - Medical Xpress - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- COVID and travel: Should I still wear a mask on the plane? - USA TODAY - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Vaccine hesitancy and equity: lessons learned from the past and how they affect the COVID-19 countermeasure in ... - Globalization and Health - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Increase in STIs Among Adolescents Witnessed During COVID-19 Pandemic - Drug Topics - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- VDH: COVID deaths not seeing decline - Vermont Biz - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- US outpatient care for serious mental health issues declined during COVID-19 - University of Minnesota Twin Cities - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- COVID-19 Vaccination in a Patient With Gluten Enteropathy: A Case Report - Cureus - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- COVID-19 cases drop, but still lots of flu, RSV cases in Erie County - GoErie.com - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Lives versus livelihoods: The COVID-19 trade-off from an epidemiological-economic perspective - CEPR - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Weatherhead's Jonathan Ernest notes economic changes of childcare facilities following COVID-19 pandemic - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- U.S. adults face distress, unequal mental health care access during the COVID-19 era - News-Medical.Net - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Simnotrelvir to reduces the symptoms of mild to moderate COVID-19 - 2 Minute Medicine - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Vaccine Effectiveness: Which COVID-19 Shots Offer the Most Protection? - SciTechDaily - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- New evidence confirms COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy is safe for babies - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Audit Committee co-chairs, Evers at odds over interest from COVID-19 funds - WisPolitics.com - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Evaluation of Olfactory Dysfunction Among COVID-19 Patients in Baghdad, Iraq - Cureus - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- COVID-19's impact on early education: Retrospective study shows decrease in kindergarten readiness - News-Medical.Net - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Rutgers researchers work on breakthrough COVID-19 treatment | Video - NJ Spotlight News - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Curious Iowa: Has the state spent all of its COVID-19 relief funding? - The Gazette - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Accelerating into Immunization Agenda 2030 with momentum from ... - Infectious Diseases of Poverty - BioMed Central - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Study Uncovers Why Young Children Suffer Less Severe COVID-19 - Technology Networks - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Wenstrup, Select Subcommittee Majority Members Investigate ... - House Committee on Oversight and Reform | - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- With COVID-19 emergency orders lifted, employers seek guidance ... - Hartford Business Journal - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Computer-aided diagnosis of chest X-ray for COVID-19 diagnosis in ... - Nature.com - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination, Infection Boosts Infant Antibody ... - Contagionlive.com - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Three Middlesex County Individuals Admit COVID-19 Fraud ... - Department of Justice - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Seventeen Broward Sheriff's Office Employees Charged with COVID ... - Department of Justice - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- New COVID-19 Booster and Flu Shot Available at Select Public ... - Mecklenburg County (.gov) - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Ban on COVID vaccine mandates by private businesses, including ... - The Texas Tribune - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- What Are the Side Effects of the 2023 COVID Vaccine? Experts ... - Good Housekeeping - October 16th, 2023 [October 16th, 2023]
- Covid inquiry: Bereaved families relief as High Court dismisses Cabinet Office JR - openDemocracy - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- UK health agency failed to account for 3.3bn of Covid inventory, say MPs - Financial Times - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- COVID-19 Working Paper: Obesity Prevalence Among U.S. Adult ... - usda.gov - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- California Changes Definition of COVID-19 Outbreak Easing the ... - Fisher Phillips - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- New Study Shows Robust Pandemic Preparedness Strongly Linked ... - Nuclear Threat Initiative - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- COVID-19 Infection Reduces the Risk of UTIs, Bacteremia, and ... - Contagionlive.com - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Europe Phases Out COVID-19 Flexible Regulations - Pharmaceutical Technology Magazine - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- Travel Pains and COVID: How to Decide if You're Ready to Travel - CreakyJoints - July 6th, 2023 [July 6th, 2023]
- COVID Depression and Anxiety | Johns Hopkins Medicine - April 17th, 2023 [April 17th, 2023]
- Man declared dead due to Covid found 'shockingly' alive after 2 years in MP - Hindustan Times - April 17th, 2023 [April 17th, 2023]
- Senate votes to end Covid-19 emergency, 3 years after initial declaration - CNN - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- DC COVID-19 centers closing Friday: Here's what you need to know - WJLA - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Can grade retention help with COVID-19 learning recovery in schools? - Brookings Institution - March 28th, 2023 [March 28th, 2023]
- On 3-year anniversary of COVID-19 in NC, Winston-Salem woman shares story of loss and healing after losing 2 loved ones - WXII12 Winston-Salem - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Oregon, Washington will lift mask requirements in health care settings on April 3 - KATU - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- WHO says all theories for COVID origin 'remain on table' as lab leak theory gains traction - Sky News - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- New COVID-19 omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 sweeping the nation, making up majority of cases - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - February 15th, 2023 [February 15th, 2023]
- Man gets 21 years in prison for stabbing wife in the Ozarks over COVID-19 stimulus check and their children - Law & Crime - February 15th, 2023 [February 15th, 2023]
- Healthline: Medical information and health advice you can trust. - January 2nd, 2023 [January 2nd, 2023]
- China can expect repeat Covid infections with new strains on the way: experts - South China Morning Post - January 2nd, 2023 [January 2nd, 2023]
- PCR tests for travellers reintroduced around the world as Covid-19 cases surge - The National - January 2nd, 2023 [January 2nd, 2023]
- Covid-19 surge after Covid-19 surge has made it impossible for US hospitals to plan for the future - Vox.com - January 2nd, 2023 [January 2nd, 2023]
- COVID-19 in China: Demand for a particular fruit rises as people seek natural remedies to fight the virus - WION - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]