Six Months Follow-Up of Patients with Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Due to COVID-19 Related ARDS

Ayham Daher, Christian Cornelissen, Niels-Ulrik Hartmann, Paul Balfanz, Annegret Müller, Ingmar Bergs, Maria Aetou, Nikolaus Marx, Gernot Marx, Tim-Philipp Simon, Dirk Müller-Wieland, Bojan Hartmann, Alexander Kersten, Tobias Müller and Michael Dreher
Additional contact information
Ayham Daher: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Christian Cornelissen: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Niels-Ulrik Hartmann: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Paul Balfanz: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Annegret Müller: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Ingmar Bergs: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Maria Aetou: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Nikolaus Marx: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Gernot Marx: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Tim-Philipp Simon: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Dirk Müller-Wieland: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Bojan Hartmann: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Alexander Kersten: Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Tobias Müller: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Michael Dreher: Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH, 52074 Aachen, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: Although patients who recovered from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have prolonged disabilities, follow-up data of those who have survived COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still very scarce. Therefore, COVID-19-ARDS survivors requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) were followed six months after discharge. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), 6-min walk test (6MWT) and echocardiography were performed. Quality of life (QoL), depression and anxiety were assessed using validated questionnaires. Patients were compared based on respiratory mechanics and CT-phenotype during intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Eighteen patients were included (61 ± 7 years; ICU-stay: 34 ± 16 days; IMV: 30 ± 15 days). At follow-up (197 ± 15 days after discharge), PFTs did not reveal significant limitations (VC: 92 ± 16%; FEV1: 92 ± 20%; DLco/VA: 81 ± 16%). Cardiac systolic function was normal in all patients, but 50% of them had diastolic dysfunction. 6MWT was under the lower limit of normal in only two patients. Eight patients (44%) reported tiredness, six (33%) suffered from fatigue and one patient (6%) had depression and anxiety. Surprisingly, patients with worse respiratory mechanics during IMV reported fewer symptoms and less exertional dyspnea at follow-up. In conclusion, patients with COVID-19-ARDS have the possibility to fully recover regarding pulmonary function and exercise capacity, which seems to be independent of disease severity during ICU stay.

Keywords: coronavirus; critical illness; follow-up; pulmonary function; fatigue; depression; anxiety; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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