PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Elise Noel-Savina AU - Thibault Viatgé AU - Guillaume Faviez AU - Benoit Lepage AU - Laurent Mhanna AU - Sandrine Pontier AU - Marion Dupuis AU - Samia Collot AU - Pascal Thomas AU - Jon Idoate Lacasia AU - Laure Crognier AU - Sihem Bouharaoua AU - Stein Silva Sifontes AU - Julien Mazieres AU - Grégoire Prevot AU - Alain Didier TI - Severe COVID-19 pneumonia: clinical, functional, and imaging outcomes at 4 months AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.OA91 DP - 2021 Sep 05 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - OA91 VI - 58 IP - suppl 65 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/OA91.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/OA91.full SO - Eur Respir J2021 Sep 05; 58 AB - Given the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), persistent pulmonary abnormalities are feared.We conducted a French prospective cohort study in severe COVID-19 patients who had oxygen saturation <94% and were admitted to hospital. We primarily aimed to describe persistent gas exchange abnormalities at 4 months, defined as decreased diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLco) and/or desaturation on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), along with the associated mechanisms and risk factors.Of the 72 patients included, 76.1% required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), while 68.5% required invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). Some 39.1% developed venous thromboembolism (VTE). At 4 months, 61.4% were still symptomatic. On a functional level, 39.1% had abnormal carbon monoxide test results and/or desaturation on the 6MWT. High-flow oxygen, MV, and VTE during the acute phase were significantly associated with these abnormalities. Restrictive lung disease was observed in 23.6% of cases, obstructive lung disease in 16.7%, and respiratory muscle dysfunction in 18.1%. The severity on initial presentation with admission to the ICU and VTE occurrence during the acute phase were associated with these abnormalities. On CT, 41% had interstitial lung disease. Four patients (5.5%) displayed residual defects on lung scintigraphy, only one of whom had developed VTE during the acute phase (5.5%).At 4 months, 39% of patients had persistent functional abnormalities and 41% radiological abnormalities. Embolic sequelae were rare. A respiratory workup after severe COVID-19 is needed to ensure the best subsequent management of patients.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA91.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.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).