Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 25, 2024 3:22:39 GMT
Small Airways Dysfunction and Lung Hyperinflation in Long COVID-19 Patients as Potential Mechanisms of Persistent Dyspnoea - Published Aug 23, 2024
Highlights
What are the main findings?
Long COVID-19 patients may present with small airways dysfunction and lung hyperinflation.
Lung hyperinflation in patients with long COVID-19 may be associated with persistent dyspnoea.
What is the implication of the main finding?
Small airways disease is prevalent in a group of patients with long COVID-19.
Early detection of small airways disease and lung hyperinflation in these patients can lead to more targeted treatments and faster recovery rates.
Abstract
Background: Reticulation, ground glass opacities and post-infection bronchiectasis are present three months following hospitalisation in patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with the severity of acute infection. However, scarce data exist on small airways impairment and lung hyperinflation in patients with long COVID-19. Aim: To evaluate small airways function and lung hyperinflation in previously hospitalised patients with long COVID-19 and their association with post-COVID-19 breathlessness.
Methods: In total, 33 patients (mean ± SD, 53 ± 11 years) with long COVID-19 were recruited 149 ± 90 days following hospital discharge. Pulmonary function tests were performed and lung hyperinflation was defined as RV/TLC ≥ 40%. Small airways function was evaluated by measuring the closing volume (CV) and closing capacity (CC) using the single-breath nitrogen washout technique (SBN2W).
Results: CC was 115 ± 28% pred. and open capacity (OC) was 90 ± 19. CC was abnormal in 13 patients (39%), CV in 2 patients (6.1%) and OC in 9 patients (27%). Lung hyperinflation was present in 15 patients, whilst the mean mMRC score was 2.2 ± 1.0. Lung hyperinflation was associated with CC (r = 0.772, p = 0.001), OC (r = 0.895, p = 0.001) and mMRC (r = 0.444, p = 0.010).
Conclusions: Long COVID-19 patients present with small airways dysfunction and lung hyperinflation, which is associated with persistent dyspnoea, following hospitalisation.
Keywords: long COVID-19; small airways disease; lung hyperinflation; dyspnoea
Highlights
What are the main findings?
Long COVID-19 patients may present with small airways dysfunction and lung hyperinflation.
Lung hyperinflation in patients with long COVID-19 may be associated with persistent dyspnoea.
What is the implication of the main finding?
Small airways disease is prevalent in a group of patients with long COVID-19.
Early detection of small airways disease and lung hyperinflation in these patients can lead to more targeted treatments and faster recovery rates.
Abstract
Background: Reticulation, ground glass opacities and post-infection bronchiectasis are present three months following hospitalisation in patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with the severity of acute infection. However, scarce data exist on small airways impairment and lung hyperinflation in patients with long COVID-19. Aim: To evaluate small airways function and lung hyperinflation in previously hospitalised patients with long COVID-19 and their association with post-COVID-19 breathlessness.
Methods: In total, 33 patients (mean ± SD, 53 ± 11 years) with long COVID-19 were recruited 149 ± 90 days following hospital discharge. Pulmonary function tests were performed and lung hyperinflation was defined as RV/TLC ≥ 40%. Small airways function was evaluated by measuring the closing volume (CV) and closing capacity (CC) using the single-breath nitrogen washout technique (SBN2W).
Results: CC was 115 ± 28% pred. and open capacity (OC) was 90 ± 19. CC was abnormal in 13 patients (39%), CV in 2 patients (6.1%) and OC in 9 patients (27%). Lung hyperinflation was present in 15 patients, whilst the mean mMRC score was 2.2 ± 1.0. Lung hyperinflation was associated with CC (r = 0.772, p = 0.001), OC (r = 0.895, p = 0.001) and mMRC (r = 0.444, p = 0.010).
Conclusions: Long COVID-19 patients present with small airways dysfunction and lung hyperinflation, which is associated with persistent dyspnoea, following hospitalisation.
Keywords: long COVID-19; small airways disease; lung hyperinflation; dyspnoea