Pulmonary sequel of covid-19 infection – 6 month follow-up observational cohort study

ABSTRACT Background: Covid19 is still an ongoing global pandemic that has significant morbidities and long term effect on one’s health. Post covid complications also known as post covid sequalae or long covid is a wide clinical spectrum that not only causes health concern but also has impact on mental and daily living leading to poor quality of life. Aim: To study about long term effects of covid 19 infection. Methods: A prospective observational study from a tertiary care hospital, visakhapatnam. Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 who presented to Govt chest hospital between April 2021 and May 2021 were enrolled. All patients were followed up at three and six months. Results: A total of 322 cases were followed for 6 months. Mean age of the patients was 47.48 (+/-) 14.58. Mild and Moderate cases were clubbed as one group, severe and critical cases clubbed into one group. At 3 month follow up functional impairment was observed in both the groups but at 6 months follow up mild restrictive impairment (FVC-77.08 (±) 6.813) was observed only in severe, critical group. In severe, critical group the pulmonary sequel observed were, lung fibrosis in 24/108 (22%) cases, bacterial infections in 4/108 (2.7%) cases, Tuberculosis in 4/108 cases, Mucor mycosis in 2/108 cases, and 8/108 (7.4%) cases succumbed to death. Conclusion: In severe, critical group post covid pulmonary sequel was observed. Appropriate and necessary work up and management to be done during follow up of cases with severe covid19 infection for better quality of life.