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Following 6 months of hospitalization from
COVID-19, recovery is steady but the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection are
persistent.
A recent prospective study demonstrated a continuous recovery of overall health domains including respiratory, physical and mental health, but the clinical sequelae of infection were frequent at 6 months after discharge from COVID-19. This study was conducted to evaluate the sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery for up to 6 months after hospitalization, as the present data regarding the same remains scarce.
The major outcomes studied were predictors of most clinically relevant sequelae, recovery of pulmonary function, radiological abnormalities, health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), physical and psychological status. These study outcomes were assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after hospitalization with repeated measurement analysis.
A total of 92 patients were included, among which 58 patients were males. The mean age was estimated to be 58.2±12.3 years. A significant improvement was observed in the percentage of patients with impaired forced vital capacity (25% to 11%) and diffusion capacity (63% to 46%). Fibrosis persisted but the radiologically ground glass reduced.
About 89.1% of patients still show>1 symptom, after 6 months of discharge. Over time, fatigue also reduced but persists in 61% of patients at 6 months. In most domains, HRQoL normalized at 6 months except physical role functioning. The most integral predictors were the length of hospitalization and persistent fatigue.
The study findings show ongoing recovery of COVID-19 patients at 6 months after discharge. Fatigue and pulmonary physiologic impairment are persistent, adversely affecting HRQoL of patients with SARS-CoV-2.
Annals of American Thoracic Society
Six-Month Follow-Up Identifies Persistent Health Problems Beyond Pulmonary Recovery in Patients With COVID-19
M E Hellemons et al.
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