Elia Rigamonti1, Marco Marando2, Pietro Gianella1,3, Adriana Tamburello1, Lorenzo Grazioli Gauthier1, Gianluca Argentieri4, Carla Puligheddu4, Alberto Pagnamenta5,6, Marco Pons1,3,7, Tanja Fusi-Schmidhauser1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale Di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale Di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Via Tesserete 46, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland. marco.marando@eoc.ch. 3. Division of Pneumology, Ospedale Regionale Di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland. 4. IIMSI - Radiology Department, Ospedale Regionale Di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland. 5. Department of Intensive Care, Intensive Care Unit Ospedale Regionale Di Mendrisio, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland. 6. Unit of Biostatistics, Bellinzona, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland. 7. Division of Pneumology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: All over the world, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is causing a significant short-term morbidity and mortality, but the medium-term impact on lung function and quality of life of affected patients are still unknown. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 39 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were recruited from a single COVID-19 hospital in Southern Switzerland. At three months patients underwent radiological and functional follow-up through CT scan, lung function tests, and 6 min walking test. Furthermore, quality of life was assessed through self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: Among 39 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, 32 (82% of all participants) presented abnormalities in CT scan and 25 (64.1%) had lung function tests impairment at three months. Moreover, 31 patients (79.5%) reported a perception of poor health due to respiratory symptoms and all 39 patients showed an overall decreased quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Medium-term follow up at three months of patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia shows the persistence of abnormalities in CT scans, a significant functional impairment assessed by lung function tests and a decreased quality of life in affected patients. Further studies evaluating the long-term impact are warranted to guarantee an appropriate follow-up to patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.
BACKGROUND: All over the world, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is causing a significant short-term morbidity and mortality, but the medium-term impact on lung function and quality of life of affected patients are still unknown. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 39 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were recruited from a single COVID-19 hospital in Southern Switzerland. At three months patients underwent radiological and functional follow-up through CT scan, lung function tests, and 6 min walking test. Furthermore, quality of life was assessed through self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: Among 39 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, 32 (82% of all participants) presented abnormalities in CT scan and 25 (64.1%) had lung function tests impairment at three months. Moreover, 31 patients (79.5%) reported a perception of poor health due to respiratory symptoms and all 39 patients showed an overall decreased quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Medium-term follow up at three months of patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia shows the persistence of abnormalities in CT scans, a significant functional impairment assessed by lung function tests and a decreased quality of life in affected patients. Further studies evaluating the long-term impact are warranted to guarantee an appropriate follow-up to patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.
Entities:
Keywords:
3-Month outcome; COVID-19; Chest CT; Pulmonary function tests
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