Journal
RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
Volume 23, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-022-01955-5
Keywords
Post-COVID; Sequelae; DLCO; Epithelial markers; Endothelial markers
Categories
Funding
- Fundacion BBVA
- Menarini
- Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR)
- Agencia de Gestio d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR, PANDEMIES 2020)
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The study found that about 60% of COVID-19 survivors had reduced DLCO 6 months after discharge, mainly in those over 60 years old, with a history of smoking, hypertension, severe COVID-19 experience, and persistent dyspnea after discharge. In addition, patients with reduced DLCO had higher levels of epithelial and endothelial markers.
Background Some COVID-19 survivors present lung function abnormalities during follow-up, particularly reduced carbon monoxide lung diffusing capacity (DLCO). To investigate risk factors and underlying pathophysiology, we compared the clinical characteristics and levels of circulating pulmonary epithelial and endothelial markers in COVID-19 survivors with normal or reduced DLCO 6 months after discharge. Methods Prospective, observational study. Clinical characteristics during hospitalization, and spirometry, DLCO and plasma levels of epithelial (surfactant protein (SP) A (SP-A), SP-D, Club cell secretory protein-16 (CC16) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI)), and endothelial (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin and Angiopoietin-2) 6 months after hospital discharge were determined in 215 COVID-19 survivors. Results DLCO was < 80% ref. in 125 (58%) of patients, who were older, more frequently smokers, had hypertension, suffered more severe COVID-19 during hospitalization and refer persistent dyspnoea 6 months after discharge. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age >= 60 years and severity score of the acute episode >= 6 were independent risk factors of reduced DLCO 6 months after discharge. Levels of epithelial (SP-A, SP-D and SLPI) and endothelial (sICAM-1 and angiopoietin-2) markers were higher in patients with reduced DLCO, particularly in those with DLCO <= 50% ref. Circulating SP-A levels were associated with the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), organizing pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms during hospitalization. Conclusions Reduced DLCO is common in COVID-19 survivors 6 months after hospital discharge, especially in those older than 60 years with very severe acute disease. In these individuals, elevated levels of epithelial and endothelial markers suggest persistent lung damage.
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