Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34091869›Full record

ArticleInfection2021

COVID-19: persistence of symptoms and lung alterations after 3-6 months from hospital discharge.

Alberto Fortini, Arianna Torrigiani, Serena Sbaragli, Aldo Lo Forte, Andrea Crociani, Paolo Cecchini, Giulia Innocenti Bruni, Antonio Faraone

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
45citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

45 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Post-COVID-19 dyspnoea and pulmonary imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Prevalence, risk factors and treatments for post-COVID-19 breathlessness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2022
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Prevalence of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome symptoms at different follow-up periods: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases · 2022
    Pooled it
  6. Clinical patterns of somatic symptoms in patients suffering from post-acute long COVID: a systematic review.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2022
    Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Incidences in Patients After Discharge from COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis : official journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alberto FortiniInternal Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torregalli 3, 50143, Florence, Italy. xfortini@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0156-3142
Arianna TorrigianiInternal Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torregalli 3, 50143, Florence, Italy.
Serena SbaragliInternal Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torregalli 3, 50143, Florence, Italy.
Aldo Lo ForteInternal Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torregalli 3, 50143, Florence, Italy.
Andrea CrocianiInternal Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torregalli 3, 50143, Florence, Italy.
Paolo CecchiniEmergency Department, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Giulia Innocenti BruniSan Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Antonio FaraoneInternal Medicine, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torregalli 3, 50143, Florence, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFew data are currently available on persistent symptoms and late organ damage in patients who have suffered from COVID-19. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the results of a follow-up program for patients discharged from a nonintensive COVID-19 ward.

methods3-6 months after hospital discharge, 59 of 105 COVID-19 patients (31 males, aged 68.2 ± 12.8 years) were recruited in the study. Forty-six patients were excluded because of nontraceability, refusal, or inability to provide informed consent. The follow-up consisted of anamnesis (including a structured questionnaire), physical examination, blood tests, ECG, lower limb compression venous ultrasound (US), thoracic US, and spirometry with diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO).

results22% of patients reported no residual symptoms, 28.8% 1 or 2 symptoms and 49.2% 3 or more symptoms. The most frequently symptoms were fatigue, exertional dyspnea, insomnia, and anxiety. Among the inflammatory and coagulation parameters, only the median value of fibrinogen was slightly above normal. A deep vein thrombosis was detected in 1 patient (1.7%). Thoracic US detected mild pulmonary changes in 15 patients (25.4%), 10 of which reported exertional dyspnea. DLCO was mildly or moderately reduced in 19 patients (37.2%), 13 of which complained of exertional dyspnea.

conclusionThese results highlight that a substantial percentage of COVID-19 patients (77.8%) continue to complain of symptoms 3-6 months after hospital discharge. Exertional dyspnea was significantly associated with the persistence of lung US abnormalities and diffusing capacity alterations. Extended follow-up is required to assess the long-term evolution of postacute sequelae of COVID-19.

Indexed as

COVID-19Patient DischargeAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHospitalsHumansLungMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRespiratory Function TestsSARS-CoV-2COVID-19DLCOFollow-upLung ultrasoundSpirometry

Identifiers

PMID34091869
PMCPMC8179958

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.