Decreased quality of life and spirometric alterations even after mild-moderate COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The follow-up of recovered COVID-19 patients is still limited. We aimed to evaluate the changes in quality-of-life (QOL) and spirometric alterations in the convalescent phase of 115 patients with at least 30 days post-COVID-19.

Methods: We included patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, available past medical records and at least 30 days after the onset of symptoms. All patients were asked to rate their general health condition before and after COVID-19 using the EQ-5D-5L standardized questionary and perform a spirometry at evaluation.

Results: In this study, that included 70%(81/115) of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19; there was a severe decrease in QOL up to 56%(64/115). Alterations in usual activities and anxiety/depression were present in 59% of patients with a severe decrease in QOL. The persistence of symptoms was present in 63%(72/115). Restrictive lung impairment was the most common spirometric alteration in 17%(20/115), of whom 65%(13/20) had mild COVID-19.

Conclusions: Spirometric alterations are presented even in mild COVID-19, and more remarkably, there is a high rate of alterations in quality of life after the recovery of this disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; Post-COVID; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Quality of life; Respiratory infection; SARS.