Table 2.
Persistent Symptoms and Chest Radiographic and Lung Function Findings at Follow-up
| Symptoms and Findings | Patients, No. (%)a |
|---|---|
| Duration of symptoms (from onset to follow-up), mean (SD), d | |
| Total | 143.4 (42.4) |
| Ward patients | 124.4 (38.1) |
| ITU patients | 162.3 (38.1) |
| Symptoms at follow-up (n = 144) | |
| Breathlessness | |
| None at present—only the first few days/weeks after discharge | 53 (36.8) |
| Current breathlessness | |
| Any | 91 (63.2) |
| Only with strenuous exercise | 36 (25.0) |
| When hurrying on the level or up a slight hill | 25 (17.4) |
| When walking at own pace on the level surface | 30 (20.8) |
| Cough | |
| Any | 25 (17.4) |
| Transient cough before sleep | 20 (13.9) |
| Cough that can affect night sleep | 5 (3.5) |
| Fatigue | 77 (53.5) |
| Reduced mobility | 54 (37.5) |
| Pain | 53 (36.8) |
| Psychological issues | 29 (20.1) |
| Cognitive difficulties | 18 (12.5) |
| Sleeping disturbances | 21 (14.6) |
| Loss of smell | 10 (6.9) |
| Loss of appetite | 12 (8.3) |
| Loss of taste | 9 (6.3) |
| Follow-up chest radiographic findings (n = 180) | |
| Complete resolution | 149 (82.8) |
| Partial resolution | 29 (16.1) |
| No change | 2 (1.1) |
| Follow-up LFT findings (n = 85) | |
| Normal spirometric values | 53 (62.4) |
| Abnormal spirometric values | 32 (37.6) |
| Abnormal gas transfer | 68 (80.0) |
Abbreviations: ITU, intensive treatment unit; LFT, lung function test; SD, standard deviation.
aData represent no. (%) of patients, unless otherwise specified.