ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine severity in patients who have had SARS-CoV2 pneumonia. Method(s): A cohort of 802 patients from our post-COVID multidisciplinary unit treated at least 30 days after being discharged from hospital was analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (admission to the Intensive Care Unit or Intermediate Respiratory Care Unit), group 2 (admission to conventional hospitalization), and group 3 (outpatient management without hospitalization). Symptoms, quality of life, daily physical activity, emotional state, biomarkers of systemic inflammation and KL-6 levels were evaluated. Result(s): A total of 802 patients with a median (interquartile range) age 59 (48-70 years) at diagnosis were reviewed, of whom 439 (54.8%) were women. Dyspnea was reported by 351 (66.%) patients and 142 (36.4%) had a grade more than 2 on the mMRC scale. Likewise, 106 (20.1%) presented dry cough and 233 (44.5%) asthenia. There were significant differences between groups 2 and 3 in: dyspnea (p=0.04), myalgia (p=0.04) and asthenia (p=0.01). Group 1 had a higher score in the TTO and VAS rates of the EuroQuoL scale compared to group 2. Finally, the KL6 levels in groups 1, 2 and 3 were: 381.50 (304 - 511.75) U/ml, 372 (249 - 483) U/ml and 298 (231.5 - 398) U/ml, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed between the 3 groups (p=0.001) and in the post-hoc analysis, lower levels of KL-6 were observed in group 3 compared to the other two groups. Conclusion(s): There is evidence to affirm that KL6 levels in post-COVID patients are related to the severity of the acute episode.