Post-recovery pulmonary function test and thorax CT correlations in COVID-19 survivors

ABSTRACT

Aim: Long-COVID has been described as persistent symptoms involving multiorgan systems in COVID-19 survivors. This single-centred study investigated the correlation between pulmonary function test (PFT) and thorax computed tomography (CT) results in COVID-19 survivors after six months of follow-up period. Material(s) and Method(s) Patients recovered from COVID-19 aged between 18 and 50 years were included in this study and divided into two groups according to PFT results as patients with normal PFT results (PFT normal;n = 74) and with PFT results with restrictive pattern (PFT restrictive;n = 12). The primary aim of this study was to try to predict the prognosis of long-term chronic pulmonary system diseases using pulmonary function test, thorax CT and laboratory findings in the sixth month after recovery. Result(s) There were no significant differences between the patients in PFT normal and PFT restrictive groups in terms of symptoms and CT findings at admission. On the other hand, the rate of dyspnoea and exertional dyspnoea was significantly more pronounced in patients in PFT restrictive group, while there were no significant differences between CT findings. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that percent forced expiratory volume in one second (%FEV1) and percent forced vital capacity (%FVC) results are associated factors in discriminating normal and PFT results with restrictive pattern in COVID-19 survivors. Discussion(s) PFTs should be included in follow-up evaluations of COVID-19 patients in order to elucidate the post-COVID-19 pulmonary abnormalities.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.