Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38253977›Full record

ArticlePhysiological reports2024

Impaired function in the lung periphery following COVID-19 is associated with lingering breathing difficulties.

Sanna Kjellberg, Alexander Holm, Nicolas Berguerand, Helena Sandén, Linus Schiöler, Monika Fagevik Olsén, Anna-Carin Olin

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Physiological reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Welding Fumes and SARS-CoV-2: A Dangerous Combination.Journal of occupational and environmental medicine · 2026
    Article
  2. Lung Function Impairment after Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Previously Healthy Individuals.Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
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

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sanna KjellbergOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-9487-4427
Alexander HolmOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Nicolas BerguerandOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Helena SandénOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Linus SchiölerOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Monika Fagevik OlsénDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Anna-Carin OlinOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
University of Gothenburg · SESahlgrenska University Hospital · SE

Funding

EC | ERDF | Interreg 000000Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation) 20210128
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Lingering breathing difficulties are common after COVID-19. However, the underlying causes remains unclear, with spirometry often being normal. We hypothesized that small airway dysfunction (SAD) can partly explain these symptoms. We examined 48 individuals (32 women, 4 hospitalized in the acute phase) who experienced dyspnea and/or cough in the acute phase and/or aftermath of COVID-19, and 22 non-COVID-19 controls. Time since acute infection was, median (range), 65 (10-131) weeks. We assessed SAD using multiple breath washout (MBW) and impulse oscillometry (IOS) and included spirometry and diffusing-capacity test (DLCO). One-minute-sit-to-stand test estimated physical function, and breathing difficulties were defined as answering "yes" to the question "do you experience lingering breathing difficulties?" Spirometry, DLCO, and IOS were normal in almost all cases (spirometry: 90%, DLCO: 98%, IOS: 88%), while MBW identified ventilation inhomogeneity in 50%. Breathing difficulties (n = 21) was associated with increased MBW-derived S

Indexed as

COVID-19DyspneaFemaleHumansLungRespirationSpirometrymultiple breath washoutoscillometrySARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID38253977
PMCPMC10803222
OpenAlexW4391111687

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.