Long-Term Pulmonary Function in Healthcare Workers: A Spirometric Evaluation Three Years Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Long-term pulmonary sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well understood, especially after mild or asymptomatic disease.
• Assessing spirometric changes over time is crucial for understanding the lasting effects of COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate spirometric changes in healthcare workers (HCWs) over a three-year period post-pandemic.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with pulmonary function decline after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of spirometry data from 103 HCWs at three time points (pre-pandemic, 1 year, 2 years post-pandemic).
• Linear regression models used to assess the impact of age, BMI, gender, smoking, SARS-CoV-2 infection history, vaccination status, and number of infections on FVC and FEV1.
• Analysis focused on changes in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).

Main Results:

• Significant decreases in FVC and FEV1 were observed at one and two years post-pandemic compared to baseline.
• Smoking habits were strongly associated with a greater decline in both FVC and FEV1.
• Multiple SARS-CoV-2 infections correlated with larger FVC reductions at one year; no significant associations found with age, gender, BMI, or vaccination status.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare workers experienced measurable pulmonary function decline even without severe COVID-19 symptoms.
• Smoking and recurrent SARS-CoV-2 infections are key factors linked to reduced lung capacity.
• Findings underscore the importance of continuous respiratory health monitoring and targeted preventive strategies in occupational settings.