Supplementary Material for: Lung function impairment after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously healthy individuals

Background The physiological basis for dyspnea, a hallmark of Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS), remains poorly understood. Methods In this analysis of the prospective, multicenter, population-based, longitudinal COVIDOM study, we studied 936 previously healthy adults assessed ≥6 months after a mostly mild, PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants underwent comprehensive pulmonary function testing including spirometry, body plethysmography, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and airwave oscillometry (AOS). Dyspnea was assessed by questionnaires (mMRC≥1 / MDP-A1 domain≥1). We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses for lung function in relation to both dyspnea and a previously defined PCS severity score (PCS-S). Results Between 11/2020 and 05/2023, we examined 936 previously healthy COVIDOM participants (median age 37 [IQR 28-51], 56% female). Dyspnea prevalence increased significantly with PCS severity (low PCS-S: 19.3%; intermediate PCS-S: 53.8%; high PCS-S: 81.8%; p