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ABSTRACT: Background
After the 2002/2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, 30% of survivors exhibited persisting structural pulmonary abnormalities. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are yet unknown, and comprehensive clinical follow-up data are lacking.Methods
In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we systematically evaluated the cardiopulmonary damage in subjects recovering from COVID-19 at 60 and 100 days after confirmed diagnosis. We conducted a detailed questionnaire, clinical examination, laboratory testing, lung function analysis, echocardiography and thoracic low-dose computed tomography (CT).Results
Data from 145 COVID-19 patients were evaluated, and 41% of all subjects exhibited persistent symptoms 100 days after COVID-19 onset, with dyspnoea being most frequent (36%). Accordingly, patients still displayed an impaired lung function, with a reduced diffusing capacity in 21% of the cohort being the most prominent finding. Cardiac impairment, including a reduced left ventricular function or signs of pulmonary hypertension, was only present in a minority of subjects. CT scans unveiled persisting lung pathologies in 63% of patients, mainly consisting of bilateral ground-glass opacities and/or reticulation in the lower lung lobes, without radiological signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Sequential follow-up evaluations at 60 and 100 days after COVID-19 onset demonstrated a vast improvement of symptoms and CT abnormalities over time.Conclusion
A relevant percentage of post-COVID-19 patients presented with persisting symptoms and lung function impairment along with radiological pulmonary abnormalities >100 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, our results indicate a significant improvement in symptoms and cardiopulmonary status over time.
SUBMITTER: Sonnweber T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7736754 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Sonnweber Thomas T Sahanic Sabina S Pizzini Alex A Luger Anna A Schwabl Christoph C Sonnweber Bettina B Kurz Katharina K Koppelstätter Sabine S Haschka David D Petzer Verena V Boehm Anna A Aichner Magdalena M Tymoszuk Piotr P Lener Daniela D Theurl Markus M Lorsbach-Köhler Almut A Tancevski Amra A Schapfl Anna A Schaber Marc M Hilbe Richard R Nairz Manfred M Puchner Bernhard B Hüttenberger Doris D Tschurtschenthaler Christoph C Aßhoff Malte M Peer Andreas A Hartig Frank F Bellmann Romuald R Joannidis Michael M Gollmann-Tepeköylü Can C Holfeld Johannes J Feuchtner Gudrun G Egger Alexander A Hoermann Gregor G Schroll Andrea A Fritsche Gernot G Wildner Sophie S Bellmann-Weiler Rosa R Kirchmair Rudolf R Helbok Raimund R Prosch Helmut H Rieder Dietmar D Trajanoski Zlatko Z Kronenberg Florian F Wöll Ewald E Weiss Günter G Widmann Gerlig G Löffler-Ragg Judith J Tancevski Ivan I
The European respiratory journal 20210429 4
<h4>Background</h4>After the 2002/2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, 30% of survivors exhibited persisting structural pulmonary abnormalities. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are yet unknown, and comprehensive clinical follow-up data are lacking.<h4>Methods</h4>In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we systematically evaluated the cardiopulmonary damage in subjects recovering from COVID-19 at 60 and 100 days after confirmed di ...[more]