Journal Article

Symptomatic, biochemical and radiographic recovery in patients with COVID-19

Kucheria, Anushree, Manalan, Kavina, Gardiner, Thomas, Kon, Onn Min, Alcada, Joana, Hampson, Dominic, Copley, Susan, Russell, Ben, Martin Segura, Alejandra, Meghji, Jamilah, Ross, Clare, Coleman, Meg, Russell, Georgina, Liew, Felicity, Agrawal, Shweta, Elkin, Sarah, Kumar, Kartik, Park, Mirae, Chhabra, Shaan, Bell, Aaron, Ratnakumar, Prashanthi, Vithlani, Gauri, Chen, Jian, Srikanthan, Karthikan, Martin, Laura, Pilkington, Victoria, Wong, Brandon, Owles, Harriet, White, Alice, Mallia, Patrick, Bramer, Solange, Sheeka, Alexander, Anandan, Lavanya, Bloom, Chloe I

2021

Overview

BackgroundThe symptoms, radiography, biochemistry and healthcare utilisation of patients with COVID-19 following discharge from hospital have not been well described.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 401 adult patients attending a clinic following an index hospital admission or emergency department attendance with COVID-19. Regression models were used to assess the association between characteristics and persistent abnormal chest radiographs or breathlessness.Results75.1% of patients were symptomatic at a median of 53 days post discharge and 72 days after symptom onset and chest radiographs were abnormal in 47.4%. Symptoms and radiographic abnormalities were similar in PCR-positive and PCR-negative patients. Severity of COVID-19 was significantly associated with persistent radiographic abnormalities and breathlessness. 18.5% of patients had unscheduled healthcare visits in the 30 days post discharge.ConclusionsPatients with COVID-19 experience persistent symptoms and abnormal blood biomarkers with a gradual resolution of radiological abnormalities over time. These findings can inform patients and clinicians about expected recovery times and plan services for follow-up of patients with COVID-19.

• Publisher: British Thoracic Society,BMJ Publishing Group LTD,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Aftercare - methods / Aftercare - organization & administration / Biomarkers - analysis / Blood tests / Body mass index / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - blood / COVID-19 - diagnostic imaging / COVID-19 - epidemiology / COVID-19 - physiopathology / Demographics / Female / Health services utilization / Hospitals / Humans / Intubation / Length of stay / Male / Middle Aged / Minority & ethnic groups / Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data / Patient Discharge - standards / Patients / Radiography, Thoracic - methods / Radiography, Thoracic - statistics & numerical data / Recovery (Medical) / Recovery of Function / Respiratory Infection / Retrospective Studies / SARS-CoV-2 / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Severity of Illness Index / Symptom Assessment - methods / Symptom Assessment - statistics & numerical data / Time Factors / United Kingdom - epidemiology