The majority of SARS-CoV-2 infection survivors have symptoms of post-COVID syndrome. We study the relationship between the infection severity and long-term sequelae.

OBJECTIVE

To assess symptoms in COVID-19 survivors with total lung damage (CT-4) and search for influencing factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We surveyed 215 COVID-19 survivors with total lung damage (CT-4) treated at the City Clinical Hospital No. 15 in the periods from 04.04.20 to 01.07.20 (the first wave), from 01.10.20 to 22.01.21 (the second wave), and from 15.06.21 to 28.08.21 (the third wave). After 6 months, 186 subjects were surveyed, and 29 after 12 months. The influence of demographic parameters, comorbidities, features of the disease course, treatment approach, and the pandemic wave on the presence and severity (using the MRC scale) of dyspnea and other signs and symptoms was assessed.

RESULTS

According to the MRC scale, dyspnea severity did not exceed Grade 1 in 71.0% of respondents 6 months after discharge and in 97.0% of respondents 12 months after discharge. Reduced exercise tolerance due to dyspnea after 6 months was reported in 129 (69.4%; 95% CI 62.0—75.8) patients and 13 (44.8%; 95% CI 26.4—64.3) in one year. There was no association of dyspnea with the factors tested. After 6 months, other symptoms were reported by 117 (62.9% 95% CI 58.8—67.0) patients and 16 (55.2% 95% CI 35.7—73.6)in one year. Female gender, the use of IL-6 inhibitors in the hospital, and the disease during the third wave of the pandemic are associated with higher probability of persistence of symptoms after 6 months.

CONCLUSION

The presence of symptoms in more than 50% of the respondents indicates their persistence in COVID-19 survivors with critical lung damage (CT-4) and warrants the need to improve post-hospital monitoring algorithms for post-COVID events, especially in this group of patients.