SARS-CoV-2: Study on the long-term effects on lung health
DZL-scientists at Thoraxklinik Heidelberg investigated how an infection with SARS-CoV-2 affects lung health in the long-term. They found that even younger, mostly healthy patients still had respiratory symptoms and a reduced lung function as late as two months after the infection. The results of this study including 246 patients were recently published in the European Respiratory Journal.
Most people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 develop only mild disease and only about one in five of the infected individuals has to be admitted to hospital. Risk factors for severe disease courses such as older age, and certain pre-existing comorbidities were identified already early during the current pandemic. However, little is known about the long-term effects of the infection, especially in mild cases of the disease.
A team of physicians and scientists at Thoraxklinik Heidelberg investigated the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 on lung health of middle-aged patients. Most of these patients (>90%) were not hospitalised and their average age was around 48 years. Only about 40% of them had known pre-existing comorbidities. Almost all patients (99%) showed typical disease symptoms at time of infection. These included loss of their sense of smell and taste (66%), cough (65%) and fever (59%). After about two months, almost half of these patients still experienced respiratory symptoms such as cough (32%) and shortness of breath (14%). Additionally, their lung function was worse compared to fully recovered patients and their symptoms required treatment with inhaled medications more frequently.
The researchers conclude that lung health can be impaired for months after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection even in patients without pre-existing comorbidities. Therefore, a structured follow-up is warranted to ensure early detection and allow treatment of long-term respiratory symptoms.
/ TLRC - Doreen Penso Dolfin
Further information:
Residual symptoms and lower lung function in patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trinkmann F, Müller M, Reif A, Kahn N, Kreuter M, Trudzinski F, Eichinger M, Heussel CP, Herth FJF; Lung Network Rhine-Neckar-Region. Eur Respir J. 2021 Jan 21:2003002. doi: 10.1183/13993003.03002-2020. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33479105