TY - JOUR T1 - Cardiopulmonary recovery after COVID-19 – an observational prospective multi-center trial JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.03481-2020 SP - 2003481 AU - Thomas Sonnweber AU - Sabina Sahanic AU - Alex Pizzini AU - Anna Luger AU - Christoph Schwabl AU - Bettina Sonnweber AU - Katharina Kurz AU - Sabine Koppelstätter AU - David Haschka AU - Verena Petzer AU - Anna Boehm AU - Magdalena Aichner AU - Piotr Tymoszuk AU - Daniela Lener AU - Markus Theurl AU - Almut Lorsbach-Köhler AU - Amra Tancevski AU - Anna Schapfl AU - Marc Schaber AU - Richard Hilbe AU - Manfred Nairz AU - Bernhard Puchner AU - Doris Hüttenberger AU - Christoph Tschurtschenthaler AU - Malte Aßhoff AU - Andreas Peer AU - Frank Hartig AU - Romuald Bellmann AU - Michael Joannidis AU - Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü AU - Johannes Holfeld AU - Gudrun Feuchtner AU - Alexander Egger AU - Gregor Hoermann AU - Andrea Schroll AU - Gernot Fritsche AU - Sophie Wildner AU - Rosa Bellmann-Weiler AU - Rudolf Kirchmair AU - Raimund Helbok AU - Helmut Prosch AU - Dietmar Rieder AU - Zlatko Trajanoski AU - Florian Kronenberg AU - Ewald Wöll AU - Günter Weiss AU - Gerlig Widmann AU - Judith Löffler-Ragg AU - Ivan Tancevski Y1 - 2020/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2020/11/26/13993003.03481-2020.abstract N2 - Background After the 2002/2003 SARS outbreak, 30% of survivors exhibited persisting structural pulmonary abnormalities. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are yet unknown, and comprehensive clinical follow-up data are lacking.Methods In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we systematically evaluated the cardiopulmonary damage in subjects recovering from COVID-19 at 60 and 100 days after confirmed diagnosis. We conducted a detailed questionnaire, clinical examination, laboratory testing, lung function analysis, echocardiography, and thoracic low-dose computed tomography (CT).Results Data from 145 COVID-19 patients were evaluated, and 41% of all subjects exhibited persistent symptoms 100 days after COVID-19 onset, with dyspnea being most frequent (36%). Accordingly, patients still displayed an impaired lung function, with a reduced diffusing capacity in 21% of the cohort being the most prominent finding. Cardiac impairment, including a reduced left ventricular function or signs of pulmonary hypertension, was only present in a minority of subjects. CT scans unveiled persisting lung pathologies in 63% of patients, mainly consisting of bilateral ground-glass opacities and/or reticulation in the lower lung lobes, without radiological signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Sequential follow-up evaluations at 60 and 100 days after COVID-19 onset demonstrated a vast improvement of both, symptoms and CT abnormalities over time.Conclusion A relevant percentage of post-COVID-19 patients presented with persisting symptoms and lung function impairment along with pulmonary abnormalities more than 100 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, our results indicate a significant improvement in symptoms and cardiopulmonary status over time.100 days after COVID-19 onset, a high portion of patients exhibit persisting symptoms and cardiopulmonary impairment. Still, a marked improvement of symptoms, pulmonary function, and CT pathologies was found at follow-up. ER -