Chest
Volume 128, Issue 3, September 2005, Pages 1393-1400
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Clinical Investigations
1-Year Pulmonary Function and Health Status in Survivors of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.3.1393Get rights and content

Study objectives

To characterize the long-term pulmonary function and health status in a prospectively identified cohort of patients who survived the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Design

Prospective follow-up cohort study.

Setting

University-affiliated hospital.

Patients

Ninety-four patients who recovered from SARS were assessed at a uniform time point of 1 year after hospital discharge.

Measurements

The study included the measurement of static and dynamic lung volumes, the determination of the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco), and a health status evaluation using the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

Results

Eleven patients (12%) had mild impairment of FVC, 20 (21%) had mild impairment of FEV1, 5 (5%) had mild impairment of the FEV1/FVC ratio, and 17 (18%) had mild impairment of the Dlco. There was one patient (1%) who had moderate impairment of FVC, one patient (1%) who had moderate impairment of the FEV1/FVC ratio, and three patients (3%) who had moderate impairment of the Dlco. No pulmonary function abnormalities were detected in 59 patients (63%). Mean scores were significantly higher (ie, worse) than the population norms in the activity (p < 0.001), impacts (p < 0.001), and total (p < 0.001) domains of the SGRQ.

Conclusions

One year after recovery from SARS, persistent pulmonary function impairment was found in about one third of patients. The health status of SARS survivors was also significantly worse compared with the healthy population. The main determinants of morbidity in recovered SARS patients need to be further defined.

Key words

follow-up studies
outcome assessment
pneumonia
respiratory impairment

Abbrevationss

ATS
American Thoracic Society
CoV
coronavirus
Dlco
diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide
Fio2
fraction of inspired oxygen
LDH
lactate dehydrogenase
SARS
severe acute respiratory syndrome
SGRQ
St. George respiratory questionnaire
TLC
total lung capacity

Cited by (0)

This study was supported by a grant from the A*STAR Biomedical Research Council.

Reproduction of this article is prohibited without written permission from the American College of Chest Physicians (www.chestjournal.org/misc/reprints.shtml).

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