Short communication
Impaired diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is common in critically ill Covid-19 patients at four months post-discharge

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106394Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Four months after Covid −19 over half of those treated in ICU have impaired lung function.

  • The most common impairment is reduced diffusing capacity, present in 45%.

  • This risk increases with age above 60, need for mechanical ventilation and time in ICU.

  • CRP at admission and as nadir lympho- and leukocytes was lower in the affected group.

Abstract

There is limited knowledge about the long-term effects on pulmonary function of COVID-19 in patients that required intensive care treatment. Spirometry and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured in 60 subjects at 3-6 months post discharge. Impaired lung function was found in 52% of the subjects, with reduced DLCO as the main finding. The risk increased with age above 60 years, need for mechanical ventilation and longer ICU stay as well as lower levels of C-reactive protein at admission. This suggests the need of follow-up with pulmonary function testing in intensive-care treated patients.

Keywords

COVID-19
Follow up
Lung function
ARDS
Diffusion capacity
ICU treatment

Cited by (0)

1

contributed equally as senior author.