Assessment of Pulmonary Function in COVID-19 Recovered Health Science Students: A Descriptiv Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) impacts multiple organs like the kidneys, heart, and liver, but primarily affects the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as cough with sputum production, fever, and in severe cases, respiratory failure. Research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-Coronavirus-2 (CoV-2) has revealed impairments in lung function during the early recovery phase following COVID-19 infection. The aim is to understand the virus’s impact and identify any obstructive, restrictive, or mixed pulmonary alterations in medical professionals six weeks after recovery. Aim: To assess Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) six weeks after COVID-19 recovery in health science students at a medical college in North Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in North Karnataka, India, from January 2021 to December 2021. A total of 155 COVID-19-recovered health science students were included, and their anthropometry, physiological parameters, and pulmonary parameters were recorded. The “Spirometer Helios 401” was used to estimate an individual’s PFT. Data were analysed using independent sample t-tests, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.73±3.04 years. The Mean±Standard Devaiation (SD) of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (L), Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) at the end of one second (L), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (L), forced mid expiratory flow 25-75 (L/s), forced mid expiratory flow 25% (L/s), forced mid expiratory flow 50% (L/s), forced mid expiratory flow 75% (L/s), Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) (L), Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) (L), Inspiratory Capacity (IC) (L), and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) (L) ± SD of post-COVID-19 subjects were less compared to their corresponding predicted values. The Mean±SD of FEV1/FVC (%) and tidal volume (L) of COVID-19 recovered subjects were higher than their corresponding expected value. The FEV, Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF), and FEV1 values were significantly less in females compared to males. Conclusion: Coronavirus Disease-19-recovered subjects showed altered respiratory functions even after six weeks, with the majority having restrictive disease, followed by a mixed pattern and obstructive diseases, while the remaining showed no changes in lung function. Altered pulmonary functions in COVID-19 patients may be due to alveolar destruction or pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease-2019
• expiratory volume
• inspiratory reserve volume
• tidal volume