Medium-Term Outcomes in Severely to Critically Ill Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases 2022-01, Vol.74 (2), p.301-308
• Main Authors: Gautam, Nandan, Madathil, Shyam, Tahani, Natascia, Bolton, Shaun, Parekh, Dhruv, Stockley, James, Goyal, Shraddha, Qureshi, Hannah, Yasmin, Sadhika, Cooper, Brendan G, Short, Jennifer, Geberhiwot, Tarekegn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; Critical Illness; Humans; Major and Commentaries; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab341

Abstract Background The medium- and long-term effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on survivors are unknown. In the current study, we assessed the medium-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on survivors of severe disease. Methods This is a retrospective, case series of 200 patients hospitalized across 3 large Birmingham hospitals with severe-to-critical COVID-19 infection 4–7 months from disease onset. Patients underwent comprehensive clinical, laboratory, imaging, lung function tests (LFTs), and quality of life and cognitive assessments. Results At 4–7 months after disease onset, 63.2% of patients reported persistent breathlessness; 53.5%, significant fatigue; 37.5%, reduced mobility; and 36.8% pain. Serum markers of inflammation and organ injuries that persisted at hospital discharge had normalized on follow-up, indicating no sustained immune response causing chronic maladaptive inflammation. Chest radiographs showed complete resolution in 82.8%, and significant improvement or no change in 17.2%. LFTs revealed gas transfer abnormalities in 80.0% and abnormal spirometric values in 37.6% of patients. Compared with patients who did not experience breathlessness, those who did had significantly higher incidences of comorbid conditions and residual chest radiographic and LFT abnormalities (P