This prospective follow-up study found short-term clinical effects of COVID-linked pneumonia to be associated with persistence of symptoms and impaired diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide.

To evaluate the short-term effects of pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 with respect to radiologic/laboratory/clinical indices of risk.

Ninety-four COVID-19 patients were included in this cohort study. These patients had pneumonia with respiratory failure due to COVID. Overall, 94 patients out of 193 survivors agreed for re-evaluation following hospital discharge after 4 months.

In about 25% of the patients, evidence of pulmonary fibrosis was perceived, as specified by a modified diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO to predict the risk of pulmonary fibrosis); in 6-7% of patients the modification was categorized as of moderate/severe grade.

As per the quality of life assessment via a questionnaire: 52% of the patients still lamented fatigue, 36% had shortness of breath, 31% insomnia, 21% anxiety and 10% anorexia nervosa, 14% altered taste. The 3 prognostic indices (Charlson Comorbidity Index, Brixia radiologic score, and 4C mortality score) considerably predicted the degree of short-term lung connection.

SARS-CoV-2-related lung infection is linked to suitable short-term clinical effects, both concerning the perseverance of symptoms and DLCO impairment; some severity indices of the disease may forecast the short-term clinical outcome. Future studies to study its long-term association are needed.