Differences in lung function between major race/ethnicity groups following hospitalization with COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Health Disparities

Background:

• COVID-19 disproportionately affects ethnic minorities, leading to higher infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates.
• Understanding the long-term respiratory consequences of COVID-19 across different racial and ethnic groups is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if race/ethnicity is an independent predictor of lung dysfunction following COVID-19 hospitalization.
• To investigate the prevalence and specific parameters of lung function impairment six months post-discharge.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 completed questionnaires and pulmonary function testing (spirometry, lung volumes, DLCO) at six months post-discharge.
• Statistical analyses compared lung function parameters across different racial and ethnic groups.
• Analyses controlled for potential confounding factors including age, BMI, smoking status, and comorbidities.

Main Results:

• Approximately 22% of patients exhibited long-term lung function impairments across spirometry, lung volumes, and DLCO.
• Statistically significant differences were observed in FEV1/FVC, RV/TLC, and DLCO % predicted between racial/ethnic groups.
• Non-Hispanic Black patients had significantly lower DLCO % predicted compared to non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients, even after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Long-term lung function impairment is a common sequela of COVID-19 hospitalization.
• Race and ethnicity are significant factors influencing post-COVID-19 lung recovery, with non-Hispanic Black individuals experiencing worse outcomes.
• Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms driving these disparities and to develop targeted interventions.