| Autor: |
Vagheggini G; Chronic Respiratory Failure Care Pathway, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Usl Toscana Nordovest, 56048 Volterra, Italy.; Fondazione Volterra Ricerche Onlus, 56048 Volterra, Italy., Marzetti F; Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Miniati M; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Bernardeschi L; Medical Special Unit for Continuity Care (USCA), Azienda Usl Toscana Nordovest, 56048 Volterra, Italy., Miccoli M; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Boni Brivio G; Medical Special Unit for Continuity Care (USCA), Azienda Usl Toscana Nordovest, 56048 Volterra, Italy., Meini S; Internal Medicine Unit, Felice Lotti Hospital, Azienda Usl Toscana Nordovest, 56025 Pontedera, Italy., Panait E; Fondazione Volterra Ricerche Onlus, 56048 Volterra, Italy., Cini E; Pulmonary and Occupational Medicine Outpatient Service Volterra (PI), Azienda Usl Toscana Nordovest, 56048 Volterra, Italy., Gemignani A; Fondazione Volterra Ricerche Onlus, 56048 Volterra, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
Persisting limitations in respiratory function and gas exchange, cognitive impairment, and mental health deterioration have been observed weeks and months after acute SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The present study aims at assessing the impairment at three-months in patients who successfully recovered from acute COVID-19. We collected data from May to July 2020. Patients underwent a multidimensional extensive assessment including pulmonary function test, psychological tests, thoracic echo scan, and functional exercise capacity. A total of 21 patients (M:13; Age 57.05 ± 11.02) completed the global assessment. A considerable proportion of patients showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (28.6%), moderate depressive symptoms (9.5%), and clinical insomnia (9.5%); 14.3% of patients exhibited moderate anxiety. A total of eleven patients (52.4%) showed impaired respiratory gas exchange capacity (P-DLCO, DLCO ≤ 79% pred). Compared to patients with normal gas exchange, the P-DLCO subgroup perceived a significant worsening in quality of life (QoL) after COVID-19 ( p = 0.024), higher fatigue ( p = 0.005), and higher impact of lung disease ( p = 0.013). In P-DLCO subgroup, higher echo score was positively associated with hospitalization length of stay ( p = 0.047), depressive symptoms ( p = 0.042), fatigue ( p = 0.035), impairment in mental health ( p = 0.035), and impact of lung disease in health status ( p = 0.020). Pulmonary function and echo scan lung changes were associated to worsened QoL, fatigue, and psychological distress symptoms. |
