Evolution and long‑term respiratory sequelae after severe COVID-19 pneumonia: nitric oxide diffusion measurement value
Marta Núñez Fernández, Cristina Ramos‐Hernández, Francisco García‐Río, Alexandre Pérez‐González, Amara Tilve-Gómez, Paula Rodríguez-Fernández, Andrés Nodar-Germiñas, Alberto Fernández-García, Alberto Ruano‐Raviña, Alberto Fernández‐Villar
Abstract
Abstract Introduction There are no published studies assessing the evolution of combined determination of the lung diffusing capacity for both nitric oxide and carbon monoxide (DL NO and DL CO ) 12 months after the discharge of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods Prospective cohort study which included patients who were assessed both 3 and 12 months after an episode of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Their clinical status, health condition, lung function testings (LFTs) results (spirometry, DL NO -DL CO analysis, and six-minute walk test), and chest X-ray/computed tomography scan images were compared. Results 194 patients, age 62 years (P 25–75 , 51.5–71), 59% men, completed the study. 17% required admission to the intensive care unit. An improvement in the patients’ exercise tolerance, the extent of the areas of ground-glass opacity, and the LFTs between 3 and 12 months following their hospital discharge were found, but without a decrease in their degree of dyspnea or their self-perceived health condition. DL NO was the most significantly altered parameter at 12 months (19.3%). The improvement in DL NO -DL CO mainly occurred at the expense of the recovery of alveolar units and their vascular component, with the membrane factor only improving in patients with more severe infections. Conclusions The combined measurement of DL NO -DL CO is the most sensitive LFT for the detection of the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia and it explain better their pathophysiology.