PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sabina Sahanic
AU  - Thomas Sonnweber
AU  - Alex Pizzini
AU  - Gerlig Widmann
AU  - Anna Luger
AU  - Magdalena Aichner
AU  - Anna Böhm
AU  - Guenter Weiss
AU  - Christoph Tschurtschenthaler
AU  - Verena Petzer
AU  - David Haschka
AU  - Markus Theurl
AU  - Daniela Lener
AU  - Sophie Wildner
AU  - Rosa Bellmann-Weiler
AU  - Ewald Wöll
AU  - Judith Löffler-Ragg
AU  - Ivan Tancevski
TI  - Late Breaking Abstract - Persisting pulmonary impairment following severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, preliminary results from the CovILD study
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.4143
DP  - 2020 Sep 07
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 4143
VI  - 56
IP  - suppl 64
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/suppl_64/4143.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/suppl_64/4143.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2020 Sep 07; 56
AB  - Background: In the 2002/2003 SARS1 outbreak, 30% of survivors exhibited persisting structural pulmonary abnormalities months after infection. Yet to this day, there is no follow-up data in patients after severe COVID-19.Aims: In this prospective multicentre observational study, we aim to systematically evaluate the cardio-pulmonary damage in COVID-19 survivors at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after discharge.Methods: At each visit, clinical examination, laboratory testing, blood gas analysis, lung function, thoracic HR-CT and echocardiography are conducted.Results: Preliminary data from 82 consecutive patients was evaluated at the first follow-up visit, i.e. 6 weeks after discharge. Mean age was 56.7 years (63.4% males); 43.9% of patients had a positive smoking history. 54 patients (65.9%) exhibited persistent symptoms, with dyspnoea ranking highest (36.6%), followed by cough (19.5%). 20 patients (24.4%) showed persistent lung impairment (defined as FVC <80% and/or FEV1 <80%), while 31 patients (37.8%) showed signs of hyperinflation (defined as RV >120%). 23 patients (28%) showed reduced diffusion capacity (DLCO). 48 patients (58.5%) showed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Importantly, serum NT-proBNP, D-dimer, and ferritin levels were found significantly elevated.Conclusion: A major portion of COVID-19 survivors presented with persisting dyspnoea and lung function abnormalities. Altogether, our results indicate prolonged resolution and remodelling, implementation of our HR-CT scan findings will finally be key to exactly define the cardio-pulmonary damage after COVID-19. We are eager to present our data of 6 and 12 weeks follow-ups at the ERS 2020.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 4143.This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).