Three-month outcomes of recovered COVID-19 patients: prospective observational study

Abstract

Aims: A novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in an ongoing global pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the outcomes of recovered patients have not been well defined. Methods: This is a prospective observational follow-up study of survivors with COVID-19 from a designated tertiary center in Hefei, China. We examined chest computed tomography (CT) scanning, pulmonary function, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and 36 item Short Form General Health Survey (SF-36). Results: Among 81 enrolled patients, 62 (77%) patients and 61 (75%) patients, respectively, completed 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Abnormal CT findings were still present in 73% of patients at 1\u2009month and 54% at 3\u2009months, whereas chest CT scan scores improved progressively at 1-month (5.0\u2009±\u20095.1) and 3-month follow up (3.0\u2009±\u20094.5) compared with that during hospitalization (11\u2009±\u20096.8). Mild restrictive pulmonary impairment was detected in 11% and 10% of patients at 1-month and 3-month follow up, respectively. The 6MWD was 523\u2009±\u200977\u2009m in male patients and 484\u2009±\u200958\u2009m in female patients, which was significantly lower than in healthy controls (606\u2009±\u200968\u2009m, 568\u2009±\u200978\u2009m, p\u2009<\u20090.001). SF-36 scores were significantly impaired in the domains of role physical (RP), role emotional (RE), and social functioning (SF) compared with the normal age-matched population. RP was improved at 3-month compared with 1-month follow up in the 41–64\u2009years group (p\u2009<\u20090.01). Multivariable analysis showed that older age (over 40\u2009years) and steroid administration during hospitalization were independently associated with worse chest CT scores at 3-month follow up. Conclusions: At 3\u2009months, chest CT abnormalities were present in one half of COVID-19 survivors and worse chest CT scores were independently associated with older age and steroid administration during hospitalization. Residual pulmonary function impairments were modest, whereas exercise capacity and SF-36 scores were significantly lower than the general population. Support program and further follow-up evaluations may be needed. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.