Post-COVID Pulmonary Function Test Evaluation

A comparison of pulmonary function pre and post mild SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthy adults

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2 infection frequently involves the respiratory system and may impact on pulmonary function tests (PFT) of recovered individuals. Studies which compare post-COVID-19 PFT to pre-illness measurements are scarce. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of COVID-19 on PFT soon after infection.

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, PFT were measured early following recovery from COVID-19 among healthy military aircrew. Spirometry values were compared to pre-COVID-19 measurements, and abnormality rates of lung volumes and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were assessed.

RESULTS

The study included 252 aviators, 97.6% males, mean age 34.9-years, following recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants manifested mild symptoms (79.4%) or were asymptomatic (20.6%). Post-COVID-19 spirometry results 10.79 ± 5.67 days following infection were compared to measurements performed 41.3 ± 28.59 months earlier. Pre- and post-COVID-19 results were comparable, with similar minimal abnormalities rates (2% and 4.4%, respectively). In addition, there were no restrictive abnormalities following infection, and just 7.7% of individuals had a marginally low DLCO of 70-80% of predicted.

CONCLUSION

Among vaccinated, healthy adults, mild COVID-19 had no significant impact on PFT early post-infection. The data suggest that systematic PFT testing might not be necessary for asymptomatic healthy individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19.

Pulmonary function 3-6 months after acute COVID-19: A systematic review and multicentre cohort study

Aims

To describe pulmonary function 3-6 months following acute COVID-19, to evaluate potential predictors of decreased pulmonary function and to review literature for the effect of COVID-19 on pulmonary function.

Materials and methods

A systematic review and cohort study were conducted. Within the P4O2 COVID-19 cohort, 95 patients aged 40-65 years were recruited from outpatient post-COVID-19 clinics in five Dutch hospitals between May 2021-September 2022. At 3-6 months post COVID-19, medical records data and biological samples were collected and questionnaires were administered. In addition, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), including spirometry and transfer factor, were performed. To identify factors associated with PFTs, linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusted for covariates.

Results

In PFTs (n = 90), mean ± SD % of predicted was 89.7 ± 18.2 for forced vital capacity (FVC) and 79.8 ± 20.0 for transfer factor for carbon monoxide (DLCO). FVC was

Conclusion

A low DLCO 3-6 months following acute COVID-19 was observed more often than a low FVC, both in the P4O2 COVID-19 study and the literature review.

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Key Words

• Long COVID
• Post COVID-19
• Pulmonary function
• Transfer factor for carbon monoxide

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Affiliation(s)

Merel E.B. Cornelissen Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Asabi Leliveld Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Nadia Baalbaki Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Debbie Gach Department of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Ivo van der Lee Department of Pulmonology, Spaarne Hospital, the Netherlands
Esther J. Nossent Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Lizan D. Bloemsma Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Anke H. Maitland-van der Zee Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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