3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month respiratory outcomes in patients following COVID-19-related hospitalisation: a prospective study
Study (n=83 in Wuhan) found that in most patients who recovered from severe COVID-19, dyspnoea scores and exercise capacity improved over time; however, in a subgroup of patients (20 [24%]) at 12 months, there was evidence of persistent physiological and radiographic change..
Source:
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
SPS commentary:
The study noted significant reduction in diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide over the study period, with a median of 77% of predicted at 3 months, 76% of predicted at 6 months, and 88% of predicted at 12 months after discharge.
A commentary notes that the findings on lung function and how these are reflected in functional tests therefore apply to a selected population at the beginning of the pandemic and both presenting characteristics and case management have evolved since then. It advises that when reading isolated papers, this is snapshot of one feature in a certain population, context, and timepoint while the details of complications after acute COVID-19 are still unfolding. Each piece of information increases knowledge but there is a need to agree on common methodologies, generate robust data, and improve the capacity to share, absorb, and process high volumes of research output more efficiently and quickly to be able to describe the novel syndrome.