Evaluation of ventilatory function six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a zoonotic infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus, primarily affecting the respiratory system and potentially leading to life-threatening conditions with long-term respiratory sequelae. The aim of this study was to describe the evolution of ventilatory function six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to better understand the prognostic factors of viral respiratory infections. This descriptive and analytical study was conducted over seven months, from August 2021 to February 2022. A total of 44 hospitalized patients, followed at the Epidemic Treatment Center (CTE), were recruited. All participants underwent a complete clinical examination, chest computed tomography (CT), and spirometry to assess ventilatory function during infection and after clinical recovery. Among the participants, 56.82% were male, with a mean age of 62.11 ± 13.42 years. Comorbidities were present in 59.09% of cases, including obesity (48%), hypertension (34%), and type 2 diabetes (14%). The most common clinical signs observed were tachycardia (43%), oxygen desaturation (33%), and dyspnea (24%). Chest CT abnormalities were observed in 65% of patients. The predominant parenchymal lesion was ground-glass opacity, present in 49% of cases, followed by pulmonary emphysema (27%), atelectasis (12%), and pulmonary nodules (12%). The extent of parenchymal lesions was mild to moderate in 47% of patients and minimal in 29% of cases. Six months post-COVID-19, the prevalence of respiratory function abnormalities was 81.81% (n = 36). The mean spirometric parameters were: FEV? = 1.94 ± 0.68 L, FEV?/FVC = 98.24 ± 2.12%, FVC = 1.98 ± 0.7 L, and PEF = 4.49 ± 1.43 L/s. Ventilatory disorders at six months included restrictive (75%), mixed (19%), and obstructive (6%) patterns. In conclusion, COVID-19 pneumonia leads to significant impairment of ventilatory function, predominantly restrictive disorders, which may persist for several months. Systematic respiratory monitoring of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 is essential for the early detection and management of potential sequelae. Key words: SARS-CoV-2, ventilatory function, sequelae.