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ERJ Open Res
. 2022 Apr 19;8(2):00479-2021.
doi: 10.1183/23120541.00479-2021. eCollection 2022 Apr.
Respiratory symptoms and radiological findings in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
Etienne-Marie Jutant 1 2 3 , Olivier Meyrignac 1 4 , Antoine Beurnier 1 2 5 , Xavier Jaïs 1 2 3 , Tai Pham 1 6 , Luc Morin 1 7 , Athénaïs Boucly 1 2 3 , Sophie Bulifon 1 2 3 , Samy Figueiredo 1 8 , Anatole Harrois 1 8 , Mitja Jevnikar 1 2 3 , Nicolas Noël 1 9 , Jérémie Pichon 1 2 3 , Anne Roche 1 2 3 , Andrei Seferian 1 2 3 , Samer Soliman 1 4 , Jacques Duranteau 1 8 , Laurent Becquemont 1 10 , Xavier Monnet 1 6 , Olivier Sitbon 1 2 3 , Marie-France Bellin 1 4 , Marc Humbert 1 2 3 , Laurent Savale 1 2 3 11 , David Montani 1 2 3 11
Affiliations
- PMID: 35445129
- PMCID: PMC8685862
- DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00479-2021
Abstract
Rationale: The characteristics of patients with respiratory complaints and/or lung radiologic abnormalities after hospitalisation for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are unknown. The objectives were to determine their characteristics and the relationships between dyspnoea, radiologic abnormalities and functional impairment.
Methods: In the COMEBAC (Consultation Multi-Expertise de Bicêtre Après COVID-19) cohort study, 478 hospital survivors were evaluated by telephone 4 months after hospital discharge, and 177 who had been hospitalised in an intensive care unit (ICU) or presented relevant symptoms underwent an ambulatory evaluation. New-onset dyspnoea and cough were evaluated, and the results of pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography of the chest were collected.
Results: Among the 478 patients, 78 (16.3%) reported new-onset dyspnoea, and 23 (4.8%) new-onset cough. The patients with new-onset dyspnoea were younger (56.1±12.3 versus 61.9±16.6 years), had more severe COVID-19 (ICU admission 56.4% versus 24.5%) and more frequent pulmonary embolism (18.0% versus 6.8%) (all p≤0.001) than patients without dyspnoea. Among the patients reassessed at the ambulatory care visit, the prevalence of fibrotic lung lesions was 19.3%, with extent <25% in 97% of the patients. The patients with fibrotic lesions were older (61±11 versus 56±14 years, p=0.03), more frequently managed in an ICU (87.9 versus 47.4%, p<0.001), had lower total lung capacity (74.1±13.7 versus 84.9±14.8% pred, p<0.001) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D LCO) (73.3±17.9 versus 89.7±22.8% pred, p<0.001). The combination of new-onset dyspnoea, fibrotic lesions and D LCO <70% pred was observed in eight out of 478 patients.
Conclusions: New-onset dyspnoea and mild fibrotic lesions were frequent at 4 months, but the association of new-onset dyspnoea, fibrotic lesions and low D LCO was rare.