Clinical presentation and pulmonary function tests in post-acute COVID-19 patients

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases
• Post-COVID Conditions

Background:

• COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to a range of post-acute symptoms affecting various organ systems.
• Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are crucial for assessing lung health and detecting impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze post-acute COVID-19 symptoms and PFT results in patients who survived the native SARS-CoV-2 strain.
• To investigate the relationship between COVID-19 severity during the acute phase and subsequent long-term symptoms and lung function.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study including 785 adult patients with a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.
• Exclusion of individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions, anemia, or neuromuscular diseases.
• Assessment included physical examination, chest X-ray, and PFTs conducted 4-12 weeks post-disease onset.

Main Results:

• Anosmia was more prevalent in mild COVID-19 cases (45.2%) compared to severe cases (4.5%).
• Dyspnea increased with disease severity (G1: 40%, G2: 51.8%, G3: 63.7%).
• PFT results, particularly diffusing capacity, significantly decreased with increasing COVID-19 severity (G1: 86.3%, G2: 79%, G3: 68% of predicted values).

Conclusions:

• Anosmia during acute infection indicates milder disease, while persistent dyspnea is more common after severe COVID-19.
• Females were more prone to experiencing persistent post-acute symptoms.
• Reduced PFT results correlate directly with the severity of the initial COVID-19 infection.