• Laura Gochicoa-Rangel, Aloisia Paloma Hernández-Morales, Antonio Salles-Rojas, Wilmer Madrid-Mejía, Carlos Guzmán-Valderrábano, Amaury González-Molina, Isabel Salas-Escamilla, Adela Durán-Cuellar, Mónica Silva-Cerón, Víctor Hernández-Morales, Alejandro Reyes-García, Irlanda Alvarado-Amador, Luis Lozano-Martínez, Paul Enright, Lya Edith Pensado-Piedra, and Luis Torre-Bouscoulet.
• Department of Respiratory Physiology, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases "Ismael Cosío Villegas," Mexico City, Mexico. drgochis@gmail.com.
• Respir Care. 2021 Oct 1; 66 (10): 161016171610-1617.

BackgroundPersistent impairment of pulmonary function and exercise capacity has been known to last for months or even years in the survivors who recovered from other coronavirus pneumonia. Some reports showed that subjects with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia after being discharged could have several sequelae, but there are few studies on gas exchange and exercise capacity complications in these subjects.AimsTo describe residual gas exchange abnormalities during recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia.MethodsIn an observational study, ∼90 d after onset of disease, we scheduled almost 200 subjects for an out-patient visit with pulmonary function testing and computed tomography of the lungs. Lung mechanics by using body plethysmography, gas exchange with diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide determined by the single-breath technique (DLCOsb) and diffusing lung capacity for nitric oxide determined by the single-breath technique (DLNOsb), and exercise ability by using the 6-min walk test (6MWT) were measured in the subjects. The results were compared between those who required invasive mechanical ventilation and those who did not.ResultsA total of 171 subjects were included, the majority (96%) had signs of residual pneumonia (such as an excess of high attenuation areas) on computed tomography of the lungs. The DLCOSB results were below the lower limit of the normal range in 29.2% of the subjects; during the 6MWT, 67% experienced oxygen desaturation ([Formula: see text]) > 4%; and, in 81 (47%), the dropped below 88%. Subjects who required invasive mechanical ventilation (49.7%) were more likely to have lower lung volumes, more gas exchange abnormality, less exercise capacity and more radiologic abnormality.ConclusionsSubjects who recovered from severe COVID-19 pneumonia continued to have abnormal lung function and abnormal radiologic findings.Copyright © 2021 by Daedalus Enterprises.

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