ABSTRACT
To date, millions of people worldwide have recovered from COVID19, but concern remains on long-term impairment. We aimed to determine 3-6 months respiratory outcomes in a Latin American Public Health Hospital. Method(s): COVID-19 patients referred (April-June 2021,gamma variant breakdown) were enrolled, recalling epidemiology, demographic, comorbidities, laboratory, radiology, treatment and outcomes, performing spirometry, lung volumes, diffusing capacity (DLCO), walking test (6MWT);values< 80% of predicted were considered abnormal. Logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate covariates associated with DLCO abnormality. Result(s): 56 patients followed 6 months make up the cohort. 56,9 +/- 13,0 years, 58,9% female,46,4% ever smokers, 42,9% obesity (BMI >30), 37,5% hypertension, 23,2% diabetes, 16,1% heart disease, 16,1% asthma. 64% dyspnea (MRC>1), 50% fatigue, sit to stand Sp02% 94,7 +/- 3,9. Lymphocites103 /muL 413,3 +/- 625,7,D-dimer ng/ml 3050,9 +/-7226,1,ferritin ng/ml 641,8 +/- 1173,4, 21.4% radiology abnormality, 35.7% admitted to ICU, days stay 17,1 +/- 10,5. 3 vs 6 months: TLC 5,3 +/- 1,9 vs 5,16 +/- 2,3 p=0.05;FVC 3,10 +/- 0,9 vs 3,16 +/- 1,0 p=0.04;DLCO:17,2 +/- 6,0 vs 17,8 +/- 6,2 7 p=0.006;Sp02% in 6MWT 90,1 +/- 98,2 vs 91,1 +/- 3,6 p=0.05. 6 months: dyspnea 28.6%, fatigue 26.8%, abnormality in: FVC 12,5%,FEV1 16,1%,DLCO 58,9%,distance 6MW 28,6%. Abnormal DLCO correlations: age > 65 p=0.02,smoking p=0.04,heart disease p=0.04,dyspnea MRC>1 p=0.002, persistent fatigue p=0.05. Conclusion(s): At 6 months some COVID-19 patients maintain symptoms and impaired DLCO and are the main target for further follow up and intervention.