Lung function after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A prospective cohort study in children

IntroductionAlthough impaired lung function after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been described in adults, it is unclear whether lung function might be altered in children, especially among asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients. In this study, we report the results of lung function testing performed after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large pediatric population. MethodsThe study included 589 patients with previous confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection aged 0-18 years. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients during acute infection were enrolled in the study. A spirometry was performed in all cooperating patients. ResultsThe mean age of enrolled patients was 9.6 years and the mean time from infection to enrollment was 171 days. Spirometry was performed and deemed evaluable in 433 patients. No patient had reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) and only 14 patients (3.2%) had a forced expiratory volume in the First second (FEV1) < 80%. The mean spirometry values recorded were in the normal range. There were no statistically significant differences in spirometry values between patients with respiratory symptoms during infection and those without. Similarly, there were no differences in spirometry parameters according to the time elapsed between infection and enrollment. ConclusionLung function, according to spirometry values, does not appear to be impaired long after infection in the pediatric population. The presence of respiratory symptoms during SARS-CoV-2 infection would not represent a risk factor for impaired lung function in this cohort of patients.

Automated summary

Based on this large-scale study of children, researchers found that lung function does not appear to be impaired long after infection with the novel coronavirus, even in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients.