Post-COVID Characteristics
Subjects presented to clinic a mean of 3.2 months after a SARS-CoV-2
positive PCR or confirmed close contact (range: 1.3 to 6.7 months)
(Table 3 ). Persistent dyspnea and/or exertional dyspnea were
present in nearly all (96.6%) of the patients at the time of clinic
presentation. Other commonly reported chronic symptoms were cough
(51.7%) and exercise intolerance (48.3%). Fatigue was reported in four
subjects (13.7%). One subject had an ongoing supplemental oxygen
requirement. Oxyhemoglobin saturations ranged from 97% to 100%. Lung
auscultation findings were normal in 27 subjects. Two subjects (6.9%)
had abnormal auscultatory findings including decreased breath sounds and
intermittent wheezing. Spirometry was performed in 28 patients. Mean
percent predicted spirometry results included an FEV1 of
107%, an FVC of 110%, an FEV1/FVC of 86%, and an
FEF25-75% of 100%. Improvement following bronchodilator administration
was observed in 47.6% of the 21 subjects who underwent
post-bronchodilator testing. Broncho-responsiveness occurred in ten
patients, five of whom have known underlying asthma and five of whom do
not. Plethysmography and diffusion capacity testing were performed in 14
subjects. Average percent predicted plethysmography results include a
TLC of 108%, a VC of 120%, an FRC of 99%, and a RV of 87%. An
elevated RV/TLC above 30% was observed in six patients ranging from
32% to 89%, suggestive of air trapping. Average percent predicted DLCO
was 95% and DLCO/VA was 97%. Exercise intolerance on a six-minute walk
test was observed in five out of nine patients (66.7%). Notably, these
patients were found to have significant tachycardia for age (HR range:
120-213 bpm). Of the eight patients who had chest radiographs performed
at the time of follow-up, only one was abnormal (12.5%). All of the 15
patients who had follow-up cardiac evaluations had normal EKG and/or
echocardiogram (Table 3 ).